Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cancer Drug Sensitization In Vitro and In Vivo
09:19

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cancer Drug Sensitization In Vitro and In Vivo

Published on: February 6, 2015

Monitoring of cellular resistance to cancer chemotherapy

Awtar Krishan1, Poonam Arya

  • 1Radiation Oncology Department, University of Miami Medical School, Division of Experimental Therapeutics (R-71), P.O. Box 01690, Miami, FL 33101, USA. akrishan@med.miami.edu

Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America
|July 4, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Cellular drug resistance hinders chemotherapy success. Flow cytometry aids in understanding and overcoming this resistance by monitoring drug efflux and enhancing drug retention in tumor cells.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Chemotherapy failure is often linked to cellular resistance against antitumor drugs.
  • Understanding the mechanisms of drug resistance is crucial for improving cancer treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multiple drug resistance (MDR) phenotype in human tumor cells.
  • To highlight the application of flow cytometry in studying MDR and its modulation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing flow cytometry to monitor drug resistance markers.
  • Assessing the accumulation of fluorescently labeled drugs within cells.
  • Screening for agents that inhibit drug efflux and promote drug retention.

Main Results:

  • Flow cytometry is a versatile tool for analyzing MDR.
  • It enables the study of drug efflux mechanisms and the identification of chemosensitizing drugs.
  • Recent advancements have improved our understanding of MDR modulation.

Conclusions:

  • Flow cytometry is instrumental in the research of multiple drug resistance.
  • Targeting drug efflux pathways can potentially enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

More Related Videos

Using RNA-sequencing to Detect Novel Splice Variants Related to Drug Resistance in In Vitro Cancer Models09:58

Using RNA-sequencing to Detect Novel Splice Variants Related to Drug Resistance in In Vitro Cancer Models

Published on: December 9, 2016

Pooled shRNA Library Screening to Identify Factors that Modulate a Drug Resistance Phenotype14:51

Pooled shRNA Library Screening to Identify Factors that Modulate a Drug Resistance Phenotype

Published on: June 17, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Cancer02:18

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Treatment Resistent Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistent Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...