Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Traditional Trail Making Test Modified into Brand-new Assessment Tools: Digital and Walking Trail Making Test
08:07

Traditional Trail Making Test Modified into Brand-new Assessment Tools: Digital and Walking Trail Making Test

Published on: November 23, 2019

11.8K

BH3-Mimetic Drugs: Blazing the Trail for New Cancer Medicines

Delphine Merino1, Gemma L Kelly2, Guillaume Lessene3

  • 1The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia; School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.

Cancer Cell
|December 12, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells evade cell death through defects in apoptosis, often by manipulating BCL-2 proteins. Small-molecule drugs targeting these proteins offer a promising strategy for cancer therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Defects in programmed cell death (apoptosis) contribute to cancer development and treatment resistance.
  • Pro-survival BCL-2 proteins inhibit apoptosis by sequestering BAX and BAK.
  • BH3-only proteins are key initiators of apoptosis, counteracting pro-survival BCL-2 proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the development of small-molecule drugs targeting BCL-2 proteins for cancer treatment.
  • To investigate strategies for overcoming apoptosis resistance in malignant cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing structural analysis and medicinal chemistry to design BH3-mimetic drugs.
  • Evaluating the efficacy of BCL-2 inhibitors in preclinical and clinical settings.

Main Results:

  • Small-molecule drugs mimicking BH3-only proteins can induce cancer cell death.
  • The BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax is approved for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
  • Ongoing trials are testing BCL-2, MCL-1, and BCL-XL inhibitors in various cancers.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting pro-survival BCL-2 family proteins is a viable therapeutic strategy in oncology.
  • BH3-mimetic drugs represent a significant advancement in cancer treatment, particularly for resistant malignancies.
Keywords:
BCL-2BH3-mimetic drugsBH3-only proteinsMCL-1apoptosiscancer

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Liujunzi Decoction as a Traditional Chinese Treatment for Coloproctitis Cancer06:24

Author Spotlight: Liujunzi Decoction as a Traditional Chinese Treatment for Coloproctitis Cancer

Published on: October 13, 2023

1.7K
Culture of Bladder Cancer Organoids as Precision Medicine Tools08:39

Culture of Bladder Cancer Organoids as Precision Medicine Tools

Published on: December 28, 2021

5.4K

Related Concept Videos

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
1.1K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
6.1K
Cancer02:18

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
54.3K
Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Drug Interactions01:25

Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Drug Interactions

Drug interactions occur when the pharmacological effect of one drug is altered by another substance, either enhancing or diminishing its activity. The drug whose activity is altered is known as the object drug, and the substance causing the alteration is called the agent drug or the precipitant. The net effects of these interactions are mostly undesirable, leading to decreased effectiveness or increased adverse effects. In rare cases, interactions can be beneficial, such as the enhanced...
440
What is Cancer?02:12

What is Cancer?

Cells and tissues must meticulously coordinate their activities for the normal functioning of the human body. Therefore, they exhibit socially responsible behavior - resting, growing, dividing, differentiating, or dying - for the organism’s benefit. Cancer arises when cells divide uncontrollably and invade other tissues or organs.
Although people have known about cancer for centuries, it was only in 1761 that Giovanni Morgagni of Padua performed a detailed autopsy of...
14.4K
Bioequivalence of Drugs: Drugs with Multiple Indications01:09

Bioequivalence of Drugs: Drugs with Multiple Indications

The concept of therapeutic equivalence (TE) in drugs with multiple indications is complex. A generic drug may be therapeutically equivalent to a brand-name product for one specific indication, but this doesn't necessarily mean it's equivalent for all other indications. Evidence of TE in one patient group and bioequivalence shown in healthy volunteers can support—but not confirm—TE for other indications. However, definitive proof requires individual clinical studies for each...
158