Ratio of BCL-2 to BAX protein

The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio (sometimes written as Bcl-2/Bax ratio) does not refer to a single molecule or therapeutic target. Instead, it expresses the proportional relationship between the levels of two opposing proteins in the BCL-2 family: Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic protein) and Bax (a pro-apoptotic protein). The ratio serves as an indicator of a cell's susceptibility to apoptosis: higher Bcl-2 relative to Bax promotes survival, while higher Bax relative to Bcl-2 promotes cell death. This measure is widely used in cancer biology, cardiovascular research, and apoptosis studies as a biomarker: an increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio is associated with decreased apoptosis and often correlates with increased tumorigenicity and resistance to therapy, whereas a decreased ratio signals increased ability to undergo cell death. The ratio itself is a derived parameter and not a discrete drug target or protein; instead, therapies may aim to modulate the expression or activity of either Bcl-2 or Bax directly. Drugs (e.g., venetoclax) that inhibit Bcl-2 alter this ratio, tipping the balance toward apoptosis in tumor cells. This means "Bax/Bcl-2 ratio" is not a canonical target, but rather a functional/diagnostic readout, so it is classified as incorrect for the purpose of defining a molecular drug target. If you seek structured data for either Bcl-2 or Bax as actual targets, they should be listed and described as individual proteins.

Other names

Bcl-2/Bax ratioBax/Bcl-2 protein ratioapoptosis sensitivity ratio