By directing a killing agent, such as a cancer chemotherpeutic drug, at a cell population before full-blown apoptosis has occurred, the researchers can induce apoptosis. The shortened decay time of the dye is then observable using phase-sensitive flow cytometry. A healthy body should also put a brake on rolling apoptosis. Out of control, apoptosis can lead to neurogenerative diseases such as immune deficiencies or Alzheimer's. However, apoptosis may someday be directed to benefit us, as well.
Apoptosis is one of the body's ways of maintaining a balance between cell growth and cell death.
It can stop damaged cells, such as cancer or tumor cells, from spreading. Should the phases of apoptosis be predictably induced in the laboratory, it might be possible someday to induce them in a tumor. But the problem is that tumor cells have genes that resist apoptosis. The precision and sensitivity of the phase-sensitive flow cytometer make it an excellent tool for examining in detail the events leading up to apoptosis. As the sensitivity of flow cytometry improves, it may even be possible to detect pre-malignant conditions on the basis of altered chromatin.