Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 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

Genes that modulate the sensitivity for anti-microtubule drug-mediated chemotherapy

H Y Yamada1, C V Rao

  • 1Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology Section, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. Hiroshi-yamada@ouhsc.edu

Current Cancer Drug Targets
|May 25, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Spindle poisons are chemotherapy drugs targeting microtubules. This review explores genes and pathways influencing their efficacy, identifying potential targets for combination therapies and prognostic markers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Spindle poisons are chemotherapy agents targeting microtubules and the mitotic spindle.
  • These drugs activate the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), leading to cell death.
  • Observed heterogeneity in cell death phenotypes suggests involvement of multiple signaling pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review genes and pathways that modulate sensitivity to spindle poisons.
  • To identify potential targets for combination chemotherapy strategies.
  • To explore the prognostic value of gene expression in spindle poison response.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating spindle poison sensitivity.
  • Categorization of modulating genes and pathways into functional groups.
  • Analysis of signaling pathways influencing drug efficacy.

Main Results:

  • Identified eight clusters of genes/pathways affecting spindle poison sensitivity: microtubule/cytoskeleton, SAC components, signaling proteins, chaperones, cell cycle regulators, proteasome components, transcription factors/nuclear receptors, and apoptotic factors.
  • These gene products represent potential targets for synergistic drug combinations.
  • Gene expression status may serve as a prognostic marker for chemotherapy response.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding signaling pathways is crucial for developing rational, synergistic chemotherapy strategies.
  • Targeting specific genes and pathways can enhance spindle poison efficacy.
  • Gene expression profiling offers potential for predicting patient response to spindle poison therapy.

More Related Videos

Quantifying Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Tumor Spheroid Model: Application for Drug Discovery13:19

Quantifying Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity in a Tumor Spheroid Model: Application for Drug Discovery

Published on: April 26, 2024

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation15:04

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation

Published on: January 19, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase01:11

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...
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...
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu01:29

Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu

Genetic variations significantly influence drug response through pharmacokinetics, receptor interactions, and biologic milieu modifications. Pharmacokinetic alterations impact drug metabolism and clearance, affecting efficacy and toxicity. Variants in drug-metabolizing enzymes, such as CYP2C9 and CYP2C19, alter drug activation and elimination. For example, CYP2C9 loss-of-function variants require lower warfarin doses to prevent excessive bleeding, while CYP2C19 variants reduce clopidogrel...
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...
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...
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets01:29

Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets

Advances in genomics have profoundly influenced drug discovery by increasing both the speed and accuracy of pharmaceutical development. Pharmacogenomics, which examines how genetic variation influences drug response, facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets and enables patient stratification for personalized treatment. These strategies contribute to improved drug efficacy, minimized adverse effects, and more efficient clinical trial design.Mapping genetic differences...