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Apoptosis Deregulation in CLL

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Advances in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 792))

Abstract

The description of apoptosis and the identification of the genes that regulate it have proved pivotal to our understanding of how cancer cells accumulate and ultimately cause morbidity and mortality. It has become increasingly clear that in CLL the balance between the pro- and anti-apoptotic members of the BCL2 family of apoptotic regulatory proteins is critical in the development and clinical progression of CLL. Furthermore, the apoptotic potential of the CLL cell determines chemotherapy sensitivity and ultimately progression-free and overall survival. The unravelling of the BCL2 story in CLL has led to the development of a whole new class of therapeutic agents—the BH3 mimetics—which are significantly more targeted than conventional chemo-immunotherapy and therefore promise potent clinical activity coupled with reduced toxicity.

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  1. CLL Research Group, Institute of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales, CF14 4XN, UK

    Chris Fegan M.D. & Chris Pepper Ph.D.

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  1. Chris Fegan M.D.
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  2. Chris Pepper Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Chris Fegan M.D. .

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  1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    Sami Malek

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Fegan, C., Pepper, C. (2013). Apoptosis Deregulation in CLL. In: Malek, S. (eds) Advances in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 792. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8051-8_7

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