Therapeutic Potential of HIV Protease-Activable CASP3 Authors: Kosuke Miyauchi, Emiko Urano, Mari Takizawa, Reiko Ichikawa, Jun Komano Scientific Reports 2012; 2: 359; doi:10.1038/srep00359. Background: As the primary executioner caspase involved in apoptosis, Caspase-3 is a key therapeutic target in cancer cells exhibiting uncontrolled cell proliferation. Because Caspase-3 activation is highly regulated, development of a viable treatment method has been difficult. Recent gene therapy procedures have been effective against HIV-1 infection, but development of treatment resistance due to mutation is a problem. Negative effects on healthy cells is also a problem. […]