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Updated: Nov 10, 2025

Examining BCL-2 Family Function with Large Unilamellar Vesicles
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Targeting BCL-2 in Cancer: Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives

Shirin Hafezi1, Mohamed Rahmani1,2

  • 1Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Cancers
|April 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Targeting BCL-2 proteins, crucial in cancer cell survival and drug resistance, offers new therapeutic strategies. This review details BCL-2 inhibitors, including venetoclax, and discusses future cancer treatment perspectives.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Apoptosis, a programmed cell death, is regulated by the BCL-2 protein family.
  • Overexpression of antiapoptotic BCL-2 proteins in cancer promotes cell survival and drug resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of preclinical and clinical studies targeting BCL-2 proteins in cancer.
  • To discuss the efficacy of BCL-2 inhibitors, particularly venetoclax, as single agents and in combination therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of extensive preclinical and clinical studies on BCL-2 protein inhibitors.
  • Analysis of venetoclax's role in targeted cancer therapy.
  • Discussion of challenges and future directions in BCL-2 family targeting.

Main Results:

  • BCL-2 inhibitors, including venetoclax, demonstrate potential in selectively killing cancer cells.
  • Combination therapies involving venetoclax show promise for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
  • Drug resistance remains a significant challenge in BCL-2 targeted therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting the BCL-2 family offers a promising avenue for novel cancer therapies.
  • Venetoclax and other inhibitors represent key advancements in this field.
  • Further research is needed to overcome drug resistance and optimize BCL-2 targeted treatments.
Keywords:
AMLBCL-2CLLcancerresistancetherapyvenetoclax

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