Targeting the Bcl-2 family in cancer therapy.

The targeting of anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, especially Bcl-2, is the focus of efforts to modulate the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis and effect tumor death. Current understanding of the role of Bcl-2 family proteins and strategies and recent developments in drug inhibitors of these proteins, particularly antisense oligonucleotides and targeted small molecules, are reviewed.