prosurvival

Prosurvival is an adjective used in biology and related fields to describe processes, signals, or states that promote the survival of cells, organisms, or populations by enhancing resistance to stress or inhibiting programmed cell death. In cell and molecular biology, prosurvival signals counteract apoptotic pathways and support viability under stress, such as nutrient deprivation, DNA damage, or oncogenic stress. Prosurvival activity is balanced by proapoptotic signals, and the net outcome depends on signaling context and intensity.

Common prosurvival pathways include the BCL-2 family of proteins, which regulate mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization; and signaling cascades such as the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway, the NF-κB transcription factor pathway, MAPK/ERK, and JAK-STAT. These pathways promote transcription of antiapoptotic proteins, enhance DNA repair, or support metabolic adaptation.

In medical research, prosurvival signaling is a central focus because its dysregulation can contribute to cancer, where tumor cells exploit prosurvival pathways to resist cell death and therapies. Strategies to counteract prosurvival signaling include BH3 mimetics targeting BCL-2 family proteins (e.g., venetoclax), inhibitors of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling, and agents that disrupt NF-κB activity. However, blocking prosurvival signals can affect normal tissues, requiring selective approaches.

Prosurvival concepts also appear outside cells, describing organismal or population strategies that increase resilience to environmental stress, such as robust stress responses or adaptive life-history traits. In ecology and evolutionary biology, prosurvival is used descriptively rather than as a formal category.