Resistance mechanisms to cancer chemotherapy.
Resistance to chemotherapy ('drug resistance') is a fundamental problem that limits the effectiveness of many chemotherapies currently used to treat cancer. Drug resistance can occur due to a variety of mechanisms, such as increased drug inactivation, drug efflux from cancer cells, enhanced repair of chemotherapy-induced damage, activation of pro-survival pathways and inactivation of cell death pathways. In this article, we review some of the major mechanisms of drug resistance and discuss how new molecularly-targeted therapies are being increasingly used to overcome these resistance mechanisms.
Drug Resistance Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Kelly Marie
KM
Redmond
Timothy Richard
TR
Wilson
Patrick Gerard
PG
Johnston
Daniel Broderick
DB
Longley
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents