Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Live Imaging to Study Microtubule Dynamic Instability in Taxane-resistant Breast Cancers
06:02

Live Imaging to Study Microtubule Dynamic Instability in Taxane-resistant Breast Cancers

Published on: February 20, 2017

Looking at drug resistance mechanisms for microtubule interacting drugs: does TUBB3 work?

Cristiano Ferlini1, Giuseppina Raspaglio, Lucia Cicchillitti

  • 1Laboratory of Antineoplastic Pharmacology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. cferlini@rm.unicatt.it

Current Cancer Drug Targets
|January 29, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Drug resistance to vinca alkaloids and taxanes is a major challenge in cancer treatment. Targeting the TUBB3 protein shows promise in overcoming this resistance in lung, breast, and ovarian cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Vinca alkaloids and taxanes are primary treatments for hematological and solid tumors.
  • Drug resistance significantly limits the clinical efficacy of these microtubule-interacting agents.
  • TUBB3 protein is implicated as a key factor in inherent drug resistance mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of TUBB3 protein in mediating resistance to microtubule-interacting drugs.
  • To explore TUBB3 as a potential therapeutic target for overcoming drug resistance in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical trial validation of drug resistance mechanisms.
  • Analysis of TUBB3 protein expression and function in cancer cells.
  • Evaluation of therapeutic strategies targeting TUBB3.

Main Results:

  • TUBB3 protein has been validated in clinical trials as a resistance factor in lung, breast, and ovarian cancers.
  • TUBB3 appears to promote cancer cell survival and counteract microtubule-interacting drug activity.
  • Its role is confirmed in diseases treatable with these drugs.

Conclusions:

  • TUBB3 protein is a significant factor in cancer drug resistance.
  • Targeting TUBB3 offers a promising strategy to enhance patient response to microtubule-interacting drugs.
  • Overcoming TUBB3-mediated resistance could improve treatment outcomes for various cancers.

More Related Videos

Quantitative Microtubule Fractionation Technique to Separate Stable Microtubules, Labile Microtubules, and Free Tubulin in Mouse Tissues07:21

Quantitative Microtubule Fractionation Technique to Separate Stable Microtubules, Labile Microtubules, and Free Tubulin in Mouse Tissues

Published on: November 17, 2023

Purification of Tubulin with Controlled Posttranslational Modifications and Isotypes from Limited Sources by Polymerization-Depolymerization Cycles07:54

Purification of Tubulin with Controlled Posttranslational Modifications and Isotypes from Limited Sources by Polymerization-Depolymerization Cycles

Published on: November 5, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
Destabilization of Microtubules01:45

Destabilization of Microtubules

The destabilization of microtubules can occur during different stages of the microtubule lifecycle, such as nucleation or elongation. It can take place at either end of the microtubule or in the microtubule lattices as a whole. The lifespan of individual microtubules within a cell varies according to the cell type and stage of the cell cycle. During interphase, the lifespan of the microtubule is about 30 minutes, while during cell division, it is about 15 minutes. In axonal microtubules of...
Microtubule Instability02:17

Microtubule Instability

Microtubules are hollow cylindrical filaments having a diameter of approximately 25 nm and a length that varies from 200 nm to 25 μm. GTP-bound tubulin subunits form αβ-heterodimers for microtubule assembly. These core building blocks interact longitudinally, polymerizing into protofilaments. The protofilaments then interact with one another through lateral bonding forces to form stable cylindrical microtubules. These cylindrical filaments are dynamic as they undergo repeated assembly and...
Microtubule Instability02:17

Microtubule Instability

Microtubules are hollow cylindrical filaments having a diameter of approximately 25 nm and a length that varies from 200 nm to 25 μm. GTP-bound tubulin subunits form αβ-heterodimers for microtubule assembly. These core building blocks interact longitudinally, polymerizing into protofilaments. The protofilaments then interact with one another through lateral bonding forces to form stable cylindrical microtubules. These cylindrical filaments are dynamic as they undergo repeated assembly and...
Microtubule Formation01:23

Microtubule Formation

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo continuous assembly and disassembly. They originate from specialized multi-protein complexes known as microtubule organizing centers or MTOCs. Within the MTOC, the point of origin of the microtubule is known as the minus end, while the end radiating outward is the plus end. Microtubules serve two primary functions — the organization of spindle complexes to separate sister chromatids during mitotic or meiotic cell division and the formation of...