BCL-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2) is an anti-apoptotic protein that plays a critical role in cell survival by blocking programmed cell death.
- Mechanism of Action: It prevents apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of pro-apoptotic proteins, specifically Bax, Bid, and Bak.
- Role in Malignancy: In AML and MDS, the overexpression of the bcl-2 gene and its resulting protein is a hallmark of the leukemic phenotype, encouraging cells to survive and multiply even in the presence of chemotherapy.
- Prognostic Value: High BCL-2 expression is a negative prognostic marker, correlating with CD34 positivity, chemoresistance, and lower complete remission rates.
- Therapeutic Target: Venetoclax is a BCL-2 inhibitor that binds directly to the protein to restore the apoptotic process in leukemic cells.
Synonyms
B-cell lymphoma 2