title: The role of ABC transporters in ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance.
abstract: Over 80% of ovarian cancer patients develop chemoresistance which results in a lethal course of the disease. A well-established cause of chemoresistance involves the family of ATP-binding cassette transporters, or ABC transporters that transport a wide range of substrates including metabolic products, nutrients, lipids, and drugs across extra- and intra-cellular membranes. Expressions of various ABC transporters, shown to reduce the intracellular accumulation of chemotherapy drugs, are increased following chemotherapy and impact on ovarian cancer survival. Although clinical trials to date using ABC transporter inhibitors have been disappointing, ABC transporter inhibition remains an attractive potential adjuvant to chemotherapy. A greater understanding of their physiological functions and role in ovarian cancer chemoresistance will be important for the development of more effective targeted therapies. This article will review the role of the ABC transporter family in ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance as well as the clinical attempts used to date to reverse chemoresistance.
authors.affiliation: Lung Research, Hanson Institute and Department of Thoracic Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ween
authors.affiliation: Data Management and Analysis Centre, University of Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Gynaecological Oncology Department, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia; School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Oehler
authors.affiliation: School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: carmela.ricciardelli@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricciardelli
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple / Q000502:physiology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
keywords: ABC transporter; Chemoresistance; Clinical trials; Multi-drug resistance; Ovarian cancer; Prognosis