In addition, Bcl-2 overexpression inhibits fucoidan-induced apoptosis and the small molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2 restores the blockage of apoptosis by Bcl-2 overexpression, indicating the need for future studies to better define the optimal combinations of fucoidan and Bcl-2 inhibitors to overcome Bcl-2-mediated resistance, thereby increasing therapeutic efficacy, in additional models of leukemia and other cancers. Here, BCL2 is linked to cancer.