title: Targeting BCL-2-related proteins in cancer therapy.
abstract: The BCL-2 family proteins are attractive targets for drug design. As pivotal regulators of apoptotic cell death, the logic of manipulating BCL-2 functions for anti-tumor effects is perhaps the strongest for any of the molecular targets proposed for cancer therapeutics. Moreover, elevated levels of anti-apoptotic proteins have been demonstrated in virtually every type of human cancer. BCL2-specific antisense oligonucleotides have shown broad anti-cancer activities in pre-clinical models and are currently in several phase III trials. Rational drug design to manipulate the functions of these proteins has been hampered by the lack of a clear understanding of biochemical or molecular functions. Initial efforts have been centered on disrupting protein-protein interactions within the BCL-2 homology (BH) family. Substantial progress in this task has been made using molecular modeling and drug leads.
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051020:bcl-X Protein
chemical_list: C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D010455:Peptides; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D045304:Cytochromes c