Inhibitors of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins: a patent review.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins is central to the regulation of apoptosis, which is vital for proper tissue development and cellular homeostasis. Anti-apoptotic proteins, members of the Bcl-2 family, are an important survival factor for many cancers and their overexpression has been associated with tumor initiation, progression, and resistance to current anticancer therapies. Therefore, strategies seeking to antagonize the function of Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic proteins have been extensively studied for developing a novel cancer therapy.

Areas covered

This review covers research and patent literature of the last 15 years dealing with the discovery and development of inhibitors of the Bcl-2 protein family.

Expert opinion

The feasibility of disru

SUBMITTER: Bajwa N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3547649 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature