Adhesion-dependent multicellular drug resistance.
Herein we review studies demonstrating resistance manifested at the multicellular level, a phenomenon referred to as intrinsic or acquired multicellular resistance (MR). In addition, due to the fact that such resistance can be recapitulated in vitro only when cells are adhered to one another in a three-dimensional culture context, we examine the roles of cell adhesion molecules and how they may contribute directly or indirectly to MR. Finally, we suggest an experimental approach to circumvent MR in the treatment of advanced, aggressive ascites tumors.
Division of Cancer Biology Research, Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
S K
SK
Green
A
A
Frankel
R S
RS
Kerbel
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001201:Ascites / Q000188:drug therapy; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology