The intricate interplay between anti-apoptotic (e.g., Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Mcl-1) and pro-apoptotic (e.g., Bax, Bak, Bim, Puma, Bid, Noxa) proteins governs the apoptotic death of myeloma cells. The gene discussed is BCL2; the disease is plasma cell myeloma.