Abstract
The B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 2 (BCL-2) family of proteins has attracted the attention of cancer biologists since the cloning of BCL-2 more than 25 years ago. In the intervening decades, the way the BCL-2 family controls commitment to programmed cell death has been greatly elucidated. Several drugs directed at inhibiting BCL-2 and related antiapoptotic proteins have been tested clinically, with some showing considerable promise, particularly in lymphoid malignancies. A better understanding of the BCL-2 family has also provided insight into how conventional chemotherapy selectively kills cancer cells and why some cancers are more chemosensitive than others. Further exploitation of our understanding of the BCL-2 family promises to offer improved predictive biomarkers for oncologists and improved therapies for patients with cancer.
MeSH terms
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Aniline Compounds / therapeutic use
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Animals
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Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
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Apoptosis / drug effects
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Biphenyl Compounds / therapeutic use
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Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
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Humans
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Indoles
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Molecular Targeted Therapy*
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Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Neoplasms / genetics
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Neoplasms / metabolism
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Neoplasms / pathology
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Nitrophenols / therapeutic use
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Piperazines / therapeutic use
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
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Pyrroles / therapeutic use
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Sulfonamides / therapeutic use
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Thionucleotides / therapeutic use
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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ABT-737
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Aniline Compounds
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Biphenyl Compounds
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Indoles
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Nitrophenols
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Piperazines
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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Pyrroles
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Sulfonamides
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Thionucleotides
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oblimersen
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obatoclax
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navitoclax