title: Mitochondrial apoptosis and BH3 mimetics.
abstract: The BCL2-selective BH3 mimetic venetoclax was recently approved for the treatment of relapsed, chromosome 17p-deleted chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and is undergoing extensive testing, alone and in combination, in lymphomas, acute leukemias, and solid tumors. Here we summarize recent advances in understanding of the biology of BCL2 family members that shed light on the action of BH3 mimetics, review preclinical and clinical studies leading to the regulatory approval of venetoclax, and discuss future investigation of this new class of antineoplastic agent.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology Research , Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.|Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.|Center for Medical Physics and Technology, Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China.
authors.forename: Haiming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology Research , Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.|Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
authors.forename: X Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology Research , Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.|Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Scott H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
keywords: BAK activation; BAX activation; BCL-2 inhibitors; BH3 mimetics; venetoclax