BCL-2 proteins: melanoma lives on the edge.

Jerry Edward Chipuk

doi:10.18632/oncoscience.193

Abstract

BCL-2 proteins: melanoma lives on the edge.

Highlights

Melanoma is potentially a fatal skin malignancy with more than 80,000 new cases in the US annually resulting in nearly 10,000 deaths
We examined two “BH3 mimetics” in our study: ABT737 and ABT263 —- small molecules that function like BH3-only proteins to inhibit anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins and sensitize cancer cells to apoptosis [7]
The combination of PLX4032 and ABT737 promoted rapid and robust apoptosis that was defined by BCL-2 family regulated cytochrome c release and caspase activation in naïve melanoma cell lines [6]

Summary

Introduction

Melanoma is potentially a fatal skin malignancy with more than 80,000 new cases in the US annually resulting in nearly 10,000 deaths (www.cancer.gov). We examined two “BH3 mimetics” in our study: ABT737 and ABT263 —- small molecules that function like BH3-only proteins to inhibit anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins and sensitize cancer cells to apoptosis [7]. While these molecules are in clinical trials for both liquid and solid tumors, minimal information was known about their potential in naïve melanoma cells (i.e., never treated with targeted therapies) and drug resistant populations.

Results

Conclusion