BH3 mimetics

Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins have been the subject and target of multiple ovarian cancer therapies. BH3 mimetics, small molecule inhibitors, have been designed over the years for the inhibition of anti-apoptotic proteins in an effort to induce apoptosis of cancer cells. The most potent of these inhibitors that have been successfully used are Bad-like BH3 mimetics such as ABT-737 and ABT-263. These antagonist drugs bind with high affinity to Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in order to upregulate apoptosis.