title: The role of Tau protein in resistance to paclitaxel.
abstract: Resistance to taxanes, related to limited efficacy of systemic therapy in cancer patients, is multifactorial. Among mechanisms of resistance to taxanes, those related to microtubule-associated proteins (MAP), including protein Tau, are of great importance. Protein Tau (50-64 kD) binds to beta-tubulin in the same place as paclitaxel. In preclinical studies, low expression of Tau in cancer cells was associated with increased sensitivity to paclitaxel. High expression of Tau protein in ER-positive breast cancers indicates resistance to taxane-containing chemotherapy and sensitivity to hormonal treatment. This article reviews current knowledge on predictive value of protein Tau in response to taxanes. Better understanding of its role may facilitate patients selection to this sort of treatment and lead to treatment optimization.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Onkologii Kobiet, Wojskowy Instytut Medyczny, Ul. Szaserów 128, Warszawa, Poland. smoterm@wp.pl
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smoter
authors.forename: Lubomir
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bodnar
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duchnowska
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stec
authors.forename: Bartłomiej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grala
authors.forename: Cezary
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Szczylik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D016875:tau Proteins; D017239:Paclitaxel