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The role of microvesicles in cancer progression and drug resistance

Samireh Jorfi1, Jameel M Inal

  • 1Cellular and Molecular Immunology Research Centre, School of Human Sciences, London Metropolitan University, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB, UK.

Biochemical Society Transactions
|January 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells release microvesicles that contribute to drug resistance by preventing chemotherapy from reaching its targets and spreading drug resistance proteins between cells.

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Cancer research
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Microvesicles are released from cells and play roles in intercellular communication.
  • Cancer cells can develop multidrug resistance (MDR), limiting treatment efficacy.
  • Chemotherapy effectiveness is often compromised by drug resistance mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of microvesicles in mediating multidrug resistance in cancer cells.
  • To understand the mechanisms by which microvesicles contribute to chemotherapy failure.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of microvesicle shedding from cancer cells under various conditions.
  • Investigating the impact of microvesicles on drug efficacy and cellular drug uptake.
  • Characterizing the molecular cargo of microvesicles, particularly MDR-associated proteins.

Main Results:

  • Microvesicle release is linked to cellular calcium levels and actin cytoskeleton dynamics.
  • Released microvesicles contain proteins that confer multidrug resistance.
  • These microvesicles actively transport drug resistance determinants between cancer cells.

Conclusions:

  • Microvesicle-mediated transfer of MDR proteins is a significant mechanism of acquired drug resistance in cancer.
  • Targeting microvesicle formation or function could be a novel therapeutic strategy to overcome chemotherapy resistance.

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