Targeting multiple arms of the apoptotic regulatory machinery

ABT-737 targets Bcl-2/Bcl-xL but not Mcl-1, which confers resistance to this novel agent. Here, we summarize recent findings indicating that Mcl-1 represents a critical determinant of ABT-737 sensitivity and resistance, and that Mcl-1 down-regulation by various pharmacologic agents or genetic approaches dramatically increases ABT-737 lethality in diverse malignant cell types. These findings also show that the multidomain proapoptotic proteins Bax and Bak play important functional roles in ABT-737-mediated apoptosis, and that Bak activation is essential in potentiation of ABT-737 lethality by agents that down-regulate Mcl-1. Collectively, these findings suggest a novel therapeutic strategy targeting multiple arms of the apoptotic machinery.