Cancer multidrug resistance: mechanisms involved and strategies for circumvention using a drug delivery system

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Golam Kibria1, Hiroto Hatakeyama, Hideyoshi Harashima

  • 1Laboratory of Innovative Nanomedicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12, Nishi 6, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0812, Japan.

Archives of Pharmacal Research
|November 26, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Multidrug resistance (MDR) hinders cancer chemotherapy. Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems (DDS) offer a promising strategy to overcome MDR by targeting cancer cells and improving treatment efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Nanotechnology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a primary challenge in cancer chemotherapy, reducing drug effectiveness.
  • Key regulators mediate MDR, causing chemotherapeutic agents to fail within cancer cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the factors contributing to MDR in cancer.
  • To explore the application of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems (DDS) in overcoming MDR.

Main Methods:

  • Review of key regulators involved in MDR.
  • Analysis of DDS strategies targeting tumor cells or associated endothelial cells.
  • Discussion of chemotherapy and macromolecule delivery via DDS.

Main Results:

  • MDR significantly impedes successful cancer treatment.
  • DDS show potential for targeting MDR cancer cells and their support systems.
  • Targeted delivery can enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy against resistant cancers.

Conclusions:

  • Nanoparticulate DDS represent a viable approach to circumvent MDR.
  • Targeting strategies involving DDS can improve outcomes for patients with resistant cancers.
  • Further research into DDS applications is crucial for advancing cancer therapy.

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