Is intracellular ATP required for mitochondrial apoptotic pathways in isolated hypoxic rat cardiac myocytes?
We demonstrate that ATP, generated through glycolysis, is a critical determinant of the form of cell death in hypoxic myocytes, independently of cellular acidification. Our data suggest that necrosis and apoptosis represent different outcomes of the same pathway. In the absence of ATP, necrosis prevails. However, the presence of ATP favors and promotes apoptosis.
Awareness of prognosis may negatively impact survival and QoL in terminally ill cancer patients. Therefore, the patient's preference for and individual susceptibility to receiving such information should be assessed carefully before disclosure.