NCIt definition : A phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotide. Targeted to the initiation codon region
of the bcl-2 mRNA, oblimersen inhibits bcl-2 mRNA translation, resulting in decreased
expression of the bcl-2 protein, an apoptotic inhibitor expressed in some types of
cancer and linked to tumor drug resistance. This agent may enhance the efficacy of
standard cytotoxic chemotherapy. (NCI04);