title: Molecular mechanisms of drug resistance in acute myeloid leukaemia.
abstract: Resistance to chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukaemia is a major obstacle to a successful outcome for many patients. Often, there is resistance against a broad range of drugs due to multiple, simultaneously active processes. These mechanisms include effects on drug influx and efflux, drug activation/inactivation, DNA repair mechanisms, altered response of end targets, an altered haematopoietic microenvironment and dysfunctional apoptotic pathways. This article reviews the factors that determine leukaemic cell chemosensitivity and discusses the potential for rationally guided therapy.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Clinical Research Fellow, Queen's University Belfast, Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Donal P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: McLornan
authors.forename: Mary Frances
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: McMullin
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Longley
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D020169:Caspases