The role of BCL-2 family proteins and therapeutic potential of BH3-mimetics in malignant pleural mesothelioma
- Author(s)
- Arulananda, S; Lee, EF; Fairlie, WD; John, T;
- Details
- Publication Year 2021-04,Volume 21,Issue #4,Page 413-424
- Journal Title
- Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy
- Publication Type
- Review
- Abstract
- Introduction: With limited recent therapeutic changes, malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is associated with poor survival and death within 12 months, making it one of the most lethal malignancies. Due to unregulated asbestos use in developing countries and home renovation exposures, cases of MPM are likely to present for decades. As MPM is largely driven by dysregulation of tumor suppressor genes, researchers have examined other mechanisms of subverting tumor proliferation and spread. Over-expression of pro-survival BCL-2 family proteins impairs cells from undergoing apoptosis, and BH3-mimetics targeting them are a novel treatment option across various cancers, though have not been widely investigated in MPM.Areas covered: This review provides an overview of MPM and its current treatment landscape. It summarizes the role of BCL-2 family proteins in tumorigenesis and the therapeutic potential of BH3-mimetics . Finally, it discusses the role of BCL-2 proteins in MPM and the pre-clinical rationale for investigating BH3-mimetics as a therapeutic strategy.Expert opinion: As a disease without readily actionable oncogene driver mutations and with modest benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition, novel therapeutic options are urgently needed for MPM. Hence, BH3-mimetics provide a promising treatment option, with evidence supporting dependence on pro-survival BCL-2 proteins for MPM cell survival.
- Keywords
- Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology; Apoptosis/drug effects; Biomimetic Materials/pharmacology; Cell Survival; Humans; Mesothelioma/*drug therapy/pathology; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Pleural Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism; Survival Rate; Apoptosis; BCL-2 family proteins; BH3-mimetics; cell death; malignant pleural mesothelioma
- Department(s)
- Medical Oncology
- PubMed ID
- 33238762
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1080/14737140.2021.1856660
- Terms of Use/Rights Notice
- Refer to copyright notice on published article.
Creation Date: 2025-05-23 08:13:53
Last Modified: 2025-05-23 08:15:07