title: Survival control of malignant lymphocytes by anti-apoptotic MCL-1.
abstract: Programmed apoptotic cell death is critical to maintain tissue homeostasis and cellular integrity in the lymphatic system. Accordingly, the evasion of apoptosis is a critical milestone for the transformation of lymphocytes on their way to becoming overt lymphomas. The anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family proteins are pivotal regulators of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and genetic aberrations in these genes are associated with lymphomagenesis and chemotherapeutic resistance. Pharmacological targeting of BCL-2 is highly effective in certain indolent B-cell lymphomas; however, recent evidence highlights a critical role for the BCL-2 family member MCL-1 in several lymphoma subtypes. MCL-1 is recurrently highly expressed in various kinds of cancer including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of B- and T-cell origin. Moreover, both indolent and aggressive forms of lymphoma require MCL-1 for lymphomagenesis and for their continued survival. This review summarizes the role of MCL-1 in B- and T-cell lymphoma and discusses its potential as a therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fernández-Marrero
authors.affiliation: III. Medical Department of Hematology and Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spinner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9906-874X
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.affiliation: III. Medical Department of Hematology and Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jost
mesh_terms: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D064549:Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C579095:MCL1 protein, human; D064549:Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2