Targeting Bcl‐X L for prevention and therapy of skin cancer

Apoptosis plays an important role in skin carcinogenesis. Bcl‐X L , an antiapoptotic Bcl‐2 family member, is a key regulator in the process. Aberrant expression of Bcl‐X L allows cells carrying mutations to survive and propagate. Overexpression of Bcl‐X L is correlated with tumor malignancy and invasion. Importantly, deregulation of Bcl‐X L confers drug resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, targeting Bcl‐X L in combination with conventional chemotherapy is a promising way to pursue cancer chemotherapy. Several compounds targeting Bcl‐X L expression or function have shown their potential in chemoprevention and of chemotherapy of cancer. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.