Application and research progress of BCL2 inhibitors in elderly patients with hematologic malignancies

Abstract

Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death which mediated by proteases called caspases. Deregulated apoptosis is the basis of a variety of diseases, including cancer. The pathways of apoptosis can be divided into two independent signaling pathways, intrinsic or extrinsic. B-cell lymphoma 2 family proteins including BCL2 anti-apoptotic protein play an important role in the regulation of caspases in intrinsic pathways. Since that BCL2 is often overexpressed in cancer cells, a series of inhibitors targeting the BCL2 family antiapoptotic proteins have been developed to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. The highly selective BCL2 inhibitors, such as venetoclax (ABT-199, Venclexta™) and navitoclax(ABT-263), have shown good efficacy and safety in many hematologic malignancies. Considering that elderly patients with hematological malignancies still lack effective treatments, BCL2 inhibitors are undoubtedly an attractive new therapy due to their desirable safety and efficacy. This article reviews the application and research progress of BCL2 inhibitors in elderly patients with hematologic malignancies.

Keywords: BCL2 inhibitors, hematologic malignancies, venetoclax, elderly patients