Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Initial Evaluation of Antibody-conjugates Modified with Viral-derived Peptides for Increasing Cellular Accumulation and Improving Tumor Targeting
11:58

Initial Evaluation of Antibody-conjugates Modified with Viral-derived Peptides for Increasing Cellular Accumulation and Improving Tumor Targeting

Published on: March 8, 2018

[Anticancer drugs and ABC transporters]

Mikio Oka1, Minoru Fukuda, Hiroshi Soda

  • 1Division of Respiratory Diseases, Dept. of Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan.

Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer & Chemotherapy
|May 28, 2005
PubMed

Insights

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are crucial for drug excretion and absorption, influencing chemotherapy effectiveness. Understanding these transporters and their genetic variations is vital for overcoming drug resistance and improving patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Anticancer drugs require specific pharmacokinetics for efficacy.
  • ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters play a key role in drug absorption and excretion.
  • ABC transporters mediate drug resistance by exporting drugs from cells or sequestering them.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of ABC transporters in cancer chemotherapy.
  • To highlight the clinical significance of ABC transporters in drug resistance and pharmacokinetics.
  • To discuss the impact of ABC transporter genetic variations on treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of ABC transporter functions in cancer chemotherapy.
  • Analysis of ABC transporter involvement in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
  • Examination of specific ABC transporters (e.g., P-glycoprotein, BCRP) and their substrate drugs.
  • Discussion of ABC gene polymorphism and its clinical implications.

Main Results:

  • ABC transporters significantly influence intracellular drug concentrations and contribute to multidrug resistance.
  • Key ABC transporters like P-glycoprotein/ABCB1 and BCRP/ABCG2 are implicated in resistance to various anticancer agents, including molecular-targeted drugs.
  • Polymorphisms in ABC genes affect drug pharmacokinetics, treatment efficacy, and adverse drug reactions.
  • ABC transporters are involved in both drug excretion and absorption processes.

Conclusions:

  • ABC transporters are critical determinants of anticancer drug efficacy and resistance.
  • Targeting or accounting for ABC transporter activity is essential for optimizing cancer chemotherapy.
  • Further research into ABC transporter function and genetic variability is needed for clinical application.

More Related Videos

A Flow Cytometry-Based Cell Surface Protein Binding Assay for Assessing Selectivity and Specificity of an Anticancer Aptamer10:46

A Flow Cytometry-Based Cell Surface Protein Binding Assay for Assessing Selectivity and Specificity of an Anticancer Aptamer

Published on: September 13, 2022

Related Concept Videos

ABC Transporters: Exporter01:31

ABC Transporters: Exporter

ATP-binding cassette or ABC transporter is the largest superfamily of integral membrane proteins. The transporters have transmembrane-binding domains (TMDs) and nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs). The TMDs are specific to their substrates, whereas the NBDs are similar to engines that complete ATP hydrolysis to complete the substrate transport. They can be full transporters consisting of two TMDs and NBDs, half transporters with one TMD and NBD, while some encoded with a single TMD or NBD are...
ABC Transporters: Importer01:27

ABC Transporters: Importer

ATP-binding cassette or ABC transporters are a class of ATP-driven pumps that hydrolyze ATP to move solutes across the membrane. They can be grouped into importers and exporters. While exporters are present in all domains of life, importers exist only in bacteria and some plants.
In bacteria, based on the number of transmembrane helices and the chemical nature of their substrates, the ABC importers can be divided into three types:
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...
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...
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...
Carrier-Mediated Transport01:06

Carrier-Mediated Transport

Carrier-mediated transport is a pivotal process in drug absorption, particularly for lipid-insoluble drugs, and encompasses facilitated diffusion and active transport. Facilitated diffusion allows drugs to move along their concentration gradient without energy expenditure, while active transport utilizes ATP to drive drug movement against this gradient.
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...