Thirty years of BCL 2: translating cell death discoveries into novel cancer therapies
The 'hallmarks of cancer' are generally accepted as a set of genetic and epigenetic alterations that a normal cell must accrue to transform into a fully malignant cancer. It follows that therapies designed to counter these alterations might be effective as anti cancer strategies. Over the past 30 years, research on the BCL 2 regulated apoptotic pathway has led to the development of small molecule compounds, known as 'BH3 mimetics' that bind to pro survival BCL 2 proteins to directly activate apoptosis of malignant cells. This Timeline article focuses on the discovery and study of BCL 2, the wider BCL 2 protein family and, specifically, its roles in cancer development and therapy.
Nature Reviews Cancer