Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms
08:46

Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms

Published on: December 9, 2015

The role of oncogenes in drug resistance

D Yu1

  • 1Departments of Surgical Oncology and Tumor Biology, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Box 107, Houston, TX, 77030, U.S.A., dihua_yu@surg.mdacc.tmc.edu).

Cytotechnology
|November 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Oncogenes significantly contribute to cancer drug resistance by influencing key cellular processes. Understanding these oncogenes may lead to new strategies to improve chemotherapy effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Oncogenes play a crucial role in cancer development and progression.
  • Emerging evidence highlights the involvement of oncogenes in mediating cancer-cell drug resistance.
  • Targeting oncogenes is a key strategy in cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a conceptual review of the role of oncogenes in cancer drug resistance.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which oncogenes confer resistance to chemotherapeutic agents.
  • To explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting oncogene-mediated drug resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating the link between oncogenes and drug resistance.
  • Focus on oncogenes encoding growth factor receptors, signaling molecules, transcription factors, cell-cycle regulators, and apoptosis regulators.
  • Conceptual synthesis of current knowledge on oncogene-driven resistance mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Oncogenes directly and indirectly impact cancer-cell drug resistance.
  • Specific oncogene families, including those regulating growth factor receptors and signaling pathways, are implicated in resistance.
  • Dysregulation of cell-cycle and apoptosis regulators by oncogenes contributes to treatment failure.

Conclusions:

  • A deeper understanding of oncogene roles in drug resistance is essential for advancing cancer therapy.
  • Targeting resistance-inducing oncogenes offers a promising avenue to enhance the efficacy of standard chemotherapeutic agents.
  • Functional perturbation of oncogenes may overcome treatment resistance and improve patient outcomes.

More Related Videos

Looking for Driver Pathways of Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapy: Drug Resistant Subclone Generation and Sensitivity Restoring by Gene Knock-down08:59

Looking for Driver Pathways of Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapy: Drug Resistant Subclone Generation and Sensitivity Restoring by Gene Knock-down

Published on: December 11, 2017

Related Concept Videos

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...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
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,...