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Updated: Oct 5, 2026

Spectrophotometric Screening for Potential Inhibitors of Cytosolic Glutathione S-Transferases
14:57

Spectrophotometric Screening for Potential Inhibitors of Cytosolic Glutathione S-Transferases

Published on: October 10, 2020

Glutathione and glutathione-dependent enzymes in cancer drug resistance

Lesley I. McLellan1, C. Roland Wolf

  • 1Ninewells Hospital, Medical School, Dundee, UK

Drug Resistance Updates : Reviews and Commentaries in Antimicrobial and Anticancer Chemotherapy
|August 16, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Glutathione and its enzymes are crucial for cellular defense against toxins and influence cancer drug sensitivity. Understanding glutathione regulation offers new anti-cancer targets but requires careful consideration of its dynamic nature.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Glutathione and glutathione-dependent enzymes are vital for cellular defense against environmental toxins.
  • Cellular glutathione homeostasis significantly impacts cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the multifactorial mechanisms by which glutathione affects drug sensitivity in cancer.
  • To identify novel anti-cancer targets based on cytoprotective pathways regulated by glutathione.

Main Methods:

  • Review of genetic and biochemical evidence.
  • Analysis of mechanisms including electrophile inactivation, redox state modulation, drug transporter activation, and cell signaling regulation.

Main Results:

  • Glutathione pathways are involved in cytoprotection and drug resistance in cancer.
  • Mechanisms include conjugation, redox modulation, transporter activation, and signaling pathway regulation.
  • New anti-cancer targets can be derived from these pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Glutathione dynamics are critical for exploiting new anti-cancer therapeutic targets.
  • Further understanding of glutathione regulation is essential for effective cancer treatment strategies.

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