Moreover, Bcl-2 does not inhibit normal physiological Ca2+ signals but selectively represses high-amplitude Ca2+ elevations capable of inducing apoptosis.26, 39 We speculate that the latter property of Bcl-2 is key to exploitation of Bcl-2 by cancer cells, as Bcl-2 would allow Ca2+-mediated growth signals while blocking pro-apoptotic Ca2+ elevation, thereby promoting cancer cell survival. This evidence concerns the gene BCL2 and cancer.