Contents
Special Issue Topic

The Role of Bcl-2 Family Proteins in Cancer Progression and Their Relevance to Cancer Therapy

Submission Deadline: November 30, 2021

Guest Editors

Dr. Donatella Del Bufalo E-Mail

Senior investigator, Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, Translational Research Functional Departmental Area, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy

Research Keywords: melanoma; angiogenesis; bcl-2 family; tumor progression; target therapy

Dr. Germain Gillet E-Mail

Hospices Civils de Lyon, Laboratoire d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Pierre Bénite, France; Université de Lyon, Centre de recherche en cancérologie de Lyon, U1052 INSERM, UMR CNRS 5286, Université Lyon I, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France

About the Special lssue

The Bcl-2 family is composed of several structurally related proteins with different, and in some cases opposing, functions. Even if this family plays a pivotal role in the intrinsic apoptotic response and consequently, cell and tissue homeostasis, it also shows a plethora of non-canonical functions, irrespective of apoptosis, both in normal and cancer cells. Studies performed in cellular and animal models as well as using patient samples demonstrated that these functions, not confined to cell death control, encompass the regulation of cell cycle, cell differentiation, cell metabolism, calcium trafficking, and neuronal development. In cancer, the Bcl-2 family has been found to regulate tumorigenesis, cell migration, invasion, and metastasis, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition. While alterations in the expression levels of the Bcl-2 family proteins have been correlated with tumor progression, resistance to chemo- and/or radio-therapy, and poor clinical outcomes, over the last few decades considerable effort has been made to discover the molecular mechanism of the Bcl-2 family members, and target specific antiapoptotic members of this family for cancer therapy. These efforts lead to the development and the approval for the treatment of several hematological malignancies of ABT-199 (Venetoclax), a specific inhibitor of Bcl-2, the founding member of this growing family.

The aim of this special issue is to highlight the role of the multifaceted Bcl-2 family members in tumor progression, and to describe recent advances regarding their involvement in cancer therapy.

Keywords: Bcl-2 family; cancer; cancer therapy; tumor progression

Published Articles

Open Access Review
B-cell lymphoma 2 family members and sarcomas: a promising target in a heterogeneous disease
Rui Caetano Oliveira ... José Casanova
Published: August 24, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:583–599
2011 30 1
Open Access Original Article
Allosteric cross-talk between the hydrophobic cleft and the BH4 domain of Bcl-2 in control of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor activity
George Shapovalov ... Natalia Prevarskaya
Published: June 28, 2022 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2022;3:375–391
2672 62 2
Open Access Review
Myeloid cell leukemia-1: a formidable barrier to anticancer therapeutics and the quest of targeting it
Prasad Sulkshane, Tanuja Teni
Published: May 24, 2022 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2022;3:278–296
3180 46 13
Open Access Review
Yeast as a tool to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of Bcl-2 family
Stéphen Manon
Published: April 02, 2022 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2022;3:128–148
2894 49 7
Open Access Original Article
Bcl-2-like protein-10 increases aggressive features of melanoma cells
Donatella Del Bufalo ... Simona D’Aguanno
Published: January 30, 2022 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2022;3:11–26
3213 76 5