APAF1 and non-small cell lung carcinoma: The imbalance between pro- and anti-apoptotic factors may lead to accumulation of transforming mutations and resistance or decreased sensitivity to anticancer treatment, as shown for APAF-1 inactivation in human leukaemic cells or DAPK-1 inactivation in non-small cell lung cancer cells (Jia et al, 2001; Tang et al, 2004).