The evasion of apoptosis, a hallmark of cancer, results from an imbalance in the components and complex interactions of the BCL-2 family of proteins. Anti-apoptotic proteins such as BCL-2 may block cell death in hematologic malignancies including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Additionally, a genetic abnormality, deletion 17p, is associated with poor prognosis in CLL patients. This symposium discusses the BCL-2 pathway, the clinical significance of deletion 17p, and treatment options in deletion 17p CLL patients.
