Abstract Our somatic cells are reproduced by the process of mitosis and nearly death of all of them will be by apoptosis, a physiological route of cellular suicide. Cancers can crop up when imbalance of this process occures, by an increased cell proliferation or a decreased cell death. Our information about the mechanisms of apoptosis has improved perceptionsabout origin and progress of some cancers. In few cases resistance to apoptosis may explain the cause of failure of cancer therapies. With the knowledge of apoptotic mechanisms, the treatment plans are developing by promoting apoptosis of cancer cells and bylimiting death of normal cells.. The goal of this review is to propose a broad summary of current information on apoptosis,it’s role in cancer and role of some proteins like caspaces, Bcl-2, IAP, p53 in apoptosis.