Table 1 Genes associated with radiation resistant prostate cancer

Bcl-2

Mitochondrial membrane protein that blocks the apoptotic death of cells

P53

Protein which responds to diverse cellular stresses, regulating cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, senescence, DNA repair, or changes in metabolism

pAkt

Protein responsible for cell survival, proliferation, metabolism and angiogenesis

COX-2

Enzyme responsible for prostaglandin production which is involved in cellular inflammation and mitogenesis

Minor

Heat shock proteins 27, 90 [17–20]

Family of proteins whose expression is increased when cells are exposed to external stresses (e.g., infection, inflammation, hypoxia) and can inhibit apoptosis and activate proteosomes

Caspase-1 [21]

Protein which is a member of the cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase) family and is central to cell apoptosis as well as inflammation, septic shock, and wound healing

MDM2 [22]

Protein with an autoregulatory negative feedback loop p53 effecting cell cycle, apoptosis and tumorigenesis

Clusterin [23, 24]

Glycoprotein observed to have both pro- and antiapoptotic functions

Ras [25]

Family of proteins responsible for signal transduction and cell to cell communication