The inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins were first investigated because of their capacity to inhibit programmed cell death in response to a number of physiological stimuli. Their disruption is also evident in many types of human cancer. As small pharmacological inhibitors of IAPs enter clinical trials, this Review examines what we now know about the function of a subset of family members — cIAP1, cIAP2 and XIAP.
- Mads Gyrd-Hansen
- Pascal Meier