Volume 4, Issue 3 e265
REVIEW
Open Access

Understanding and targeting resistance mechanisms in cancer

Zi-Ning Lei

Zi-Ning Lei

Precision, Medicine Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, P. R. China

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA

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Qin Tian

Qin Tian

Precision, Medicine Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, P. R. China

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Qiu-Xu Teng

Qiu-Xu Teng

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA

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John N. D. Wurpel

John N. D. Wurpel

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA

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Leli Zeng

Corresponding Author

Leli Zeng

Precision, Medicine Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, P. R. China

Correspondence

Leli Zeng and Yihang Pan, Precision Medicine Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, P. R. China.

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Zhe-Sheng Chen, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA.

Email: [email protected]

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Yihang Pan

Corresponding Author

Yihang Pan

Precision, Medicine Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, P. R. China

Correspondence

Leli Zeng and Yihang Pan, Precision Medicine Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, P. R. China.

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Zhe-Sheng Chen, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA.

Email: [email protected]

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Zhe-Sheng Chen

Corresponding Author

Zhe-Sheng Chen

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA

Correspondence

Leli Zeng and Yihang Pan, Precision Medicine Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, P. R. China.

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Zhe-Sheng Chen, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 22 May 2023
Citations: 10

Abstract

Resistance to cancer therapies has been a commonly observed phenomenon in clinical practice, which is one of the major causes of treatment failure and poor patient survival. The reduced responsiveness of cancer cells is a multifaceted phenomenon that can arise from genetic, epigenetic, and microenvironmental factors. Various mechanisms have been discovered and extensively studied, including drug inactivation, reduced intracellular drug accumulation by reduced uptake or increased efflux, drug target alteration, activation of compensatory pathways for cell survival, regulation of DNA repair and cell death, tumor plasticity, and the regulation from tumor microenvironments (TMEs). To overcome cancer resistance, a variety of strategies have been proposed, which are designed to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment or reduce drug resistance. These include identifying biomarkers that can predict drug response and resistance, identifying new targets, developing new targeted drugs, combination therapies targeting multiple signaling pathways, and modulating the TME. The present article focuses on the different mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer and the corresponding tackling approaches with recent updates. Perspectives on polytherapy targeting multiple resistance mechanisms, novel nanoparticle delivery systems, and advanced drug design tools for overcoming resistance are also reviewed.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

The authors declare no conflict of interest. Author Zhe-Sheng Chen is the Editorial Board Member of MedComm. Author Zhe-Sheng Chen was not involved in the journal's review of, or decisions related to, this manuscript.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Not applicable.

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