The anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family are attractive tumor-associated antigens

Anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family (Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L) and Mcl-2) are pivotal regulators of apoptotic cell death. They are all highly overexpressed in cancers of different origin in which they enhance the survival of the cancer cells. Consequently, they represent prime candidates for anti-cancer therapy and specific antisense oligonucleotides or small molecule inhibitors have shown broad anti-cancer activities in pre-clinical models and are currently tested in clinical trials. In addition, immune-mediated tumor destruction is emerging as an interesting modality to treat cancer patients. Notably, spontaneous cellular immune responses against the Bcl-2 family proteins have been identified as frequent features in cancer patients underscoring that these proteins are natural targets for the immune system. Thus, Bcl-2 family may serve as an important and widely applicable target for anti-cancer immunotherapeutic strategies, alone or in the combination with conventional therapy. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of Bcl-2 family proteins as T-cell antigens, which has set the stage for the first explorative trial using these antigens in therapeutic vaccinations against cancer, and discuss future opportunities.

Paradoxical regulation of Bcl-2 family proteins by 17beta-oestradiol in human breast cancer cells MCF-7

Tumorigenesis is related to the dysregulation of cell growth or cell death pathways. Hence, elucidation of the mechanisms involved in the modulation of pro- or anti-apoptotic proteins is important in furthering understanding of breast cancer aetiology and may aid in designing prevention and treatment strategies. In the present study, we examined the role of 17beta-oestradiol on the regulation of apoptosis in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Using multi-probe RNAase protection assays, we found changes in the mRNA levels of several Bcl-2 family proteins upon treatment of MCF-7 cells with 17beta-oestradiol. Unexpectedly, we found a paradoxical effects of 17beta-oestradiol on two anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-x. Treatment with 17beta-oestradiol resulted in up-regulation of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein, but down-regulated Bcl-x(L) mRNA and protein. The effect of 17beta-oestradiol on Bcl-x(L) occurred at concentration-dependent fashion. The effect was specific to 17beta-oestradiol since other steroid hormones exert no effect on Bcl-x(L). Tamoxifen, an anti-oestrogen, blocked the down-regulation of Bcl-x(L) by 17beta-oestradiol demonstrating this effect is oestrogen receptor-dependent. We speculate that different members of the Bcl-2 family proteins may be regulated through different pathway and these pathways may be modulated by 17beta-oestradiol.