A first milestone was the discovery of ABT-263 (navitoclax), a dual BCL-2/BCL-xL inhibitor. Building on this achievement, the development of venetoclax, a highly selective BCL-2 inhibitor, marked a major breakthrough, demonstrating potent pro-apoptotic activity and clinical efficacy in several leukaemia subtypes. Despite these advances, the design of inhibitors of BCL-2 family members remains challenging, largely due to the structural characteristics of the BH3-binding groove, which is both shallow and hydrophobic, complicating the identification of molecules with optimal binding affinity and selectivity. PROTACs targeting BCL-xL may represent a promising future strategy, potentially overcoming the intrinsic limitations of small molecule inhibitors.

P1/2, N=52, Not yet recruiting, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Moreover, Gossypol exhibited cytotoxic effects on human breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer cell lines, at least partially through downregulating the oncogenic substrates of targeted DUBs such as c-Myc, Mcl-1, MDM2, and Cyclin D1. Collectively, our findings position Gossypol as a promising small-molecule inhibitor targeting DUBs, especially USPs, and provide a rationale for further exploring its therapeutic potential in USP-driven cancers.

KEGG analysis suggested that the toxic mechanisms may be linked to pathways involved in malignancy, the HIF-1 signaling pathway, proteoglycans in cancer, apoptosis, and others. Gossypol demonstrates a significant therapeutic effect against cervical cancer; however, its hepatotoxicity risk, mediated through multiple targets and pathways, requires further investigation.

Background: BH3 mimetics (such as venetoclax and navitoclax) are increasingly investigated in the context of the "one-two punch" anticancer strategy, wherein senescence-inducing therapies are combined with senolytic clearance. In FAERS, venetoclax combined with senescence-inducing chemotherapy shows stronger reporting signals for leukopenia and multi-lineage cytopenias and for several serious outcome categories compared with monotherapy. These reporting patterns highlight the need for further care in terms of clinical implementation of the currently investigated senolytics prior to the consideration of the "one-two punch" strategy.

Early "first-generation" senolytics, including navitoclax (ABT-263) and the dasatinib-quercetin (D + Q) combination, provided proof-of-concept that selective removal of SnCs can alleviate certain fibrotic, metabolic, and cardiovascular pathologies in preclinical studies. These approaches offer potentially more targeted and personalized therapeutic options but face significant challenges, including immunopathology, manufacturing complexity, off-target effects, and long-term safety concerns. The ongoing shift from broad inhibition to precision reprogramming represents a promising but preliminary step in the treatment of age-related diseases.

Crucially, we demonstrate that gossypol binding reduces the overall flexibility of the binding site and that each binding state is characterized by a unique pattern of conformational stabilization across the four pockets. These findings provide an unprecedentedly detailed and dynamic roadmap of the gossypol-Bcl-2 interaction, offering crucial insights for the future structure-based design of next-generation inhibitors.

Nine inhibitors (i.e., venetoclax, navitoclax; and seven previously prioritized BCL-2 hit inhibitors by our research group) are profiled across solvent systems, including neat DMSO, 10% DMSO, and a ternary matrix (S3: 10% DMSO, 90% sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) in saline). Comparisons with time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer (TR-FRET) analysis, in vitro assays, and MM/GBSA binding free energy results confirmed DSC's accuracy in detecting binding energetics. Collectively, these results position DSC as a robust, material-efficient tool for thermodynamic screening of BCL-2 ligands and other poorly soluble compounds, and as a practical complement to isothermal titration calorimetry when solubility or kinetic limitations prevail.

Venetoclax, navitoclax, and obatoclax represented significant advances in apoptosis-targeted therapy, with venetoclax emerging as the most clinically successful agent. However, resistance mechanisms and side effects were significant challenges, necessitating further preclinical and clinical studies to optimize the therapeutic potential of these agents.

Drug sensitivity prediction indicated that high-risk patients may respond better to agents such as Tozasertib and Navitoclax. This study establishes a robust, demethylation-driven six-gene signature that effectively stratifies HCC patients into distinct prognostic groups. The model integrates multi-omic insights into tumor biology and therapeutic vulnerability, providing a clinically actionable framework for personalized risk assessment and treatment planning in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Inhibition of UBE3A combined with the senolytic agent ABT‑263 induced apoptosis and inhibited tumor growth. The UBE3A/mH2A1/TERT axis enhances the anti-senescence capacity of pancreatic cancer cells and drives malignant progression, suggesting that UBE3A may serve as a novel therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.

cGAS-STING pathway can guide risk stratification and can be considered as a therapeutic target for ESCC patients, which provides novel insights into precision and personalized medicine for ESCC patients.