BCL-2
A protein that stops cells from self-destructing. Venetoclax removes that protection and has transformed leukaemia treatment.
Venetoclax is standard in CLL (fixed-duration with obinutuzumab or ibrutinib) and AML (with azacitidine in older patients). Next-generation BCL-2 inhibitors (sonrotoclax, lisaftoclax) and MCL-1 inhibitors follow.
- Target · the protein and the cell it sits on
- Drug · antibody, small molecule, cell or radioligand
- Effect · signal, damage or kill
In plain words · A protein that stops cells from self-destructing. Venetoclax removes that protection and has transformed leukaemia treatment.
- 1 · What it is
A protein that stops cells from self-destructing. Venetoclax removes that protection and has transformed leukaemia treatment.
- 2 · What goes wrong in cancer
BCL-2 is an anti-apoptotic BH3-domain protein, overexpressed via t(14;18) in follicular lymphoma.
- 3 · How drugs use it
2 products aim at BCL-2: small molecules. Drugs bind the molecule precisely: to switch it off, flag the cell for the immune system, or deliver a payload.
Biology
BCL-2 is an anti-apoptotic BH3-domain protein, overexpressed via t(14;18) in follicular lymphoma.
- CLL
- AML
- Follicular lymphoma
- Mantle cell lymphoma
How common it is, by cancer
| Cancer | Prevalence | Measure | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia | >90% | BCL-2 overexpression | Wikipedia | |
| Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma | 30-40% | BCL2 translocation/overexpression | ~90% in follicular lymphoma t(14;18) | Wikipedia |
| Acute myeloid leukaemia | n/a | Dependency, not a prevalence threshold | Wikipedia |
Approximate, population-level figures; the measure column says what was counted. Ranges show the midpoint as a bar.
Sonrotoclax is a more potent, shorter-acting successor to venetoclax. It was approved for mantle cell lymphoma in May 2026 and is in late-stage trials with zanubrutinib for CLL.
A pill that removes the survival shield from leukaemia cells, enabling chemotherapy-free, time-limited treatment for CLL.
AMPLIFY delivered the first all-oral, fixed-duration doublet for front-line CLL and supported its approval, giving fit patients a way to avoid both chemotherapy and years of continuous BTK inhibitor. It does not settle whether a doublet or triplet is best, or how AV compares with venetoclax-obinutuzumab. Patients with TP53 aberration were excluded and still need different strategies.
VIALE-A turned a palliative regimen into one that produces remission in two-thirds of older AML patients and is now the reference treatment for anyone not fit for intensive chemotherapy. It shifted the field towards lower-intensity targeted combinations and opened the door to adding FLT3, IDH and menin inhibitors to the backbone. Cure remains uncommon and most patients relapse within two years.
CLL14 established the first chemotherapy-free, fixed-duration regimen for front-line CLL and made MRD-guided thinking mainstream in the disease. Patients get a year of treatment and then a treatment-free period rather than indefinite therapy. The choice today is between fixed-duration venetoclax combinations and continuous BTK inhibitors, with no proven survival difference.
MURANO made fixed-duration venetoclax the standard for relapsed CLL and showed that stopping therapy after a deep response is safe for most patients. It also established MRD at end of treatment as a practical guide to who is likely to stay in remission. Retreatment with venetoclax at relapse appears feasible.
Latest papers
topQuery for this target: (TITLE:"BCL-2" OR ABSTRACT:"BCL-2" OR TITLE:"BCL2" OR ABSTRACT:"BCL2") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about BCL-2, not a curated reading list.
Pages like this
not linked directly; found by shared links- ProductObinutuzumab
Shares GLOW, Venetoclax + obinutuzumab (12 months), CELESTIAL-TNCLL, AMPLIFY.
- TargetBTK (Bruton tyrosine kinase)
Shares CAPTIVATE, GLOW, CELESTIAL-TNCLL, BTK degraders to pre-empt resistance in frontline CLL.
- CompanyAbbVie (incl. ImmunoGen, Capstan)
Shares Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), VIALE-A: venetoclax plus azacitidine for older adults with acute myeloid leukaemia who cannot have intensive chemotherapy, MURANO: two years of venetoclax plus rituximab versus chemo-immunotherapy in relapsed CLL.
- TargetCD20
Shares Venetoclax + obinutuzumab (12 months), AMPLIFY, CLL14, Michael Hallek.
- ProductAcalabrutinib
Shares BTK degraders to pre-empt resistance in frontline CLL, AMPLIFY, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, BTK inhibitor + venetoclax, fixed duration.
- ProductIbrutinib
Shares CAPTIVATE, GLOW, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, CLL13 / GAIA.
- Termdel(17p) / TP53 aberration in CLL
Shares AMPLIFY, MURANO: two years of venetoclax plus rituximab versus chemo-immunotherapy in relapsed CLL, AMPLIFY: fixed-duration acalabrutinib plus venetoclax, with or without obinutuzumab, versus chemo-immunotherapy in fit CLL patients, CLL14: one year of venetoclax plus obinutuzumab instead of chemo-immunotherapy in older, less fit CLL patients.
- TermTumour lysis syndrome (TLS)
Shares VIALE-A, CLL14, Sonrotoclax, Venetoclax.