What does BCL-2 do? From new molecular insights to the clinical implications. (PubMed, Cell Death Differ)
Clinically, the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax has revolutionized CLL and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment, showing efficacy in TP53-mutant CLL and elderly AML patients when combined with CD20 antibodies or hypomethylating agents...This review highlights the clinical success of BCL-2 inhibitors, addresses resistance mechanisms, and explores future directions, including sublethal MOMP, inflammatory outcomes, and novel inhibitors. Celebrating the collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts that transformed fundamental discoveries into life-saving therapies, this account underscores both the triumphs and the "potholes" encountered on the path to understanding apoptosis, while identifying open questions for ongoing research.