Targeting cell death: helping push cancer cells over the edge

[Jm954]

The BCL-2 family regulate one of the body’s apoptotic pathways. As scientists understand more about these proteins, they are able to push the boundaries of cancer research.

The BCL-2 family is broadly divided into two types: pro-survival proteins, including BCL-2, BCL-XL, BCL-W and MCL-1, which help keep the cell alive; and pro-apoptotic proteins, which promote cell death. These two types of BCL-2 proteins typically work together to regulate apoptosis.

More about how AbbVie engineered a new drug to target both BCL-2 and BCL-XL which might be helpful for us CLLers here:

nature.com/articles/d42473-...

Note this is an AbbVie advert for their research in the journal Nature

Jackie

[Justasheet1]

Jackie,

Sounds like it doesn’t leave any room for resistance to develop.

Jeff

[Murzik]

Great article!!! And a lot of hope of using proteins of BCL2 group as future cancer fighting targets. Thank you, G.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Per reference 8, the first drug that inhibited both BCL-2 and BCL-XL was ABT-263, later named Navitoclax;

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nav...

The last CLL patient on the Naviclax trial developed resistance to the trial drug only last year.

Per reference 10, the second, more selective drug for BCL-2 is ABT-199, later named Venetoclax.

Neil

[Justasheet1 in reply to AussieNeil]

Neil,

So what happened to Naviclax, do you know?

Jeff

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Justasheet1]

There is an expanded access program

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show...

I expect that it's largely been superseded by the much more selective Venetoclax and yet another of the many failed drugs, which at least led to a very effective drug.

Neil

[Wroxham]

Thanks Jackie.

Sue

[Smakwater]

Very cool read Jackie,

Hence the BCL-2 inhibitor venclexta.

I read something like this and it makes me ponder how there are some who claim to be bored.

Fascinating,

JM

[Jm954 Administrator in reply to Smakwater]

yes, it stretches your mind both comprehension and imagination - brilliant!

Jackie