Cited by 625Cell death mechanisms and regulationCancer-related Molecular PathwaysAutophagy in Disease and Therapy

The BCL2 Family: Key Mediators of the Apoptotic Response to Targeted Anticancer Therapeutics

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Hata, Aaron N., Engelman, Jeffrey A., Faber, Anthony C.·2015·Cancer Discovery

Abstract

The ability of cancer cells to suppress apoptosis is critical for carcinogenesis. The BCL2 family proteins comprise the sentinel network that regulates the mitochondrial or intrinsic apoptotic response. Recent advances in our understanding of apoptotic signaling pathways have enabled methods to identify cancers that are “primed” to undergo apoptosis, and have revealed potential biomarkers that may predict which cancers will undergo apoptosis in response to specific therapies. Complementary efforts have focused on developing novel drugs that directly target antiapoptotic BCL2 family proteins. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the role of BCL2 family members in cancer development and response to therapy, focusing on targeted therapeutics, recent progress in the development of apoptotic biomarkers, and therapeutic strategies designed to overcome deficiencies in apoptosis. Significance: Apoptosis, long known to be important for response to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, has more recently been shown to be essential for the efficacy of targeted therapies. Approaches that increase the likelihood of a cancer to undergo apoptosis following therapy may help improve targeted treatment strategies. Cancer Discov; 5(5); 475–87. ©2015 AACR.

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Crossref · 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-15-0011

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  • Inhibition of MEK/ERK signaling leads to BIM accumulation and increases apoptotic priming in oncogene-driven cancers treated with various targeted therapies, driving cells into an MCL-1 and/or BCL-XL dependent state.

    “Inhibition of MEK/ERK signaling leads to BIM accumulation and increases apoptotic priming in oncogene-driven cancers treated with various targeted therapies, driving cells into an MCL-1 and/or BCL-XL dependent state15,17.”

    From LKB1 regulates JNK-dependent stress signaling and apoptotic dependency of KRAS-mutant lung cancers (2025) · cites this paper as [15]

    In “BCL-2 family proteins and response to targeted therapies” (page unavailable), the review says MEK/ERK inhibition commonly increases BIM across targeted-therapy settings. Its discussion of apoptotic priming is consistent with increased BIM moving cells toward apoptosis, and “Therapeutic targeting of BCL-2 family proteins” describes BCL-XL dependence after MEK inhibition in KRAS-mutant cancers. It does not establish that these therapies generally drive oncogene-driven cancers into an MCL-1 and/or BCL-XL-dependent state; for EGFR-mutant NSCLC, it instead reports a reduction in MCL-1 alongside BIM induction. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Suppression of MEK/ERK signaling leads to the accumulation of the pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family protein BIM, which is critical for inducing apoptosis in response to an array of targeted therapies.

    “Suppression of MEK/ERK signaling leads to the accumulation of the pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family protein BIM, which is critical for inducing apoptosis in response to an array of targeted therapies14,15.”
  • Many studies have established a central role of the pro-apoptotic BH3 protein BIM in mediating the apoptotic response to targeted therapies.

    “Many studies have established a central role of the pro-apoptotic BH3 protein BIM in mediating the apoptotic response to targeted therapies (reviewed in [116]).”

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Authors
Hata, A. N., Engelman, J. A., & Faber, A. C.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Engelman, Jeffrey A.
  • Faber, Anthony C.
Venue
Cancer Discovery
Published
2015-05-01
Volume
5
Issue
5
Pages
475-487
ISSN
  • 2159-8274 (ISSN-L)
  • 2159-8290
OpenAlex
W2067275727
Cited by
619
References
185
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 69 · 2021: 79 · 2020: 83 · 2019: 79 · 2018: 73 · 2017: 45 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 6
FWCI
4.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cancer Discovery (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Cancer Institute (P50CA127003, R01CA140594, R01CA164273, R01CA137008)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Cell death mechanisms and regulation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer-related Molecular Pathways
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
Keywords
Bcl-2 family proteins, apoptosis, targeted cancer therapy, mitochondrial apoptosis, cancer therapy response, carcinogenesis, apoptosis resistance
MeSH terms
Bcl-2-Like Protein 11, Animals, Antineoplastic Agents, Humans, Membrane Proteins, Neoplasms, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Signal Transduction, Biomarkers, Apoptosis, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2, Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins, Molecular Targeted Therapy

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