Lapatinib antagonizes multidrug resistance-associated protein 1-mediated multidrug resistance by inhibiting its

Shao-lin Ma1, Ya-peng Hu1, Fang Wang1

  • 1Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Insights

Lapatinib enhances chemotherapy efficacy in MRP1-overexpressing cancers by inhibiting the MRP1 transporter. This tyrosine kinase inhibitor improves drug accumulation without affecting AKT or ERK1/2 phosphorylation, offering new clinical possibilities.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Lapatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor for HER2-positive breast cancer.
  • ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters like ABCB1 and ABCG2 drive multidrug resistance (MDR).
  • The role of other efflux pumps, including MRP1, in lapatinib's efficacy is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate lapatinib's impact on multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and other drug efflux pumps.
  • To determine if lapatinib can overcome resistance mediated by MRP1, MRP2, MRP4, and LRP.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which lapatinib affects MRP1 function.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro and in vivo studies using MRP1-overexpressing cells.
  • Assessing lapatinib's effect on the efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutic agents.
  • Measuring the intracellular accumulation of rhodamine 123 and doxorubicin.
  • Analyzing protein and mRNA expression levels of MRP1.
  • Evaluating AKT and ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels.

Main Results:

  • Lapatinib enhanced chemotherapeutic efficacy in MRP1-overexpressing cells but not in cells overexpressing MRP2, MRP4, or LRP.
  • Lapatinib increased intracellular accumulation of rhodamine 123 and doxorubicin in MRP1-overexpressing cells.
  • Lapatinib did not alter MRP1 protein or mRNA expression, nor AKT/ERK1/2 phosphorylation.

Conclusions:

  • Lapatinib inhibits MRP1 transport function, enhancing chemotherapy efficacy in MRP1-overexpressing cancers.
  • This mechanism operates independently of changes in AKT or ERK1/2 phosphorylation.
  • Findings support clinical trials combining lapatinib with conventional agents for MRP1-overexpressing cancers.

Related Concept Videos

Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Role of Transporters01:27

Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Role of Transporters

A drug's nonlinear kinetics can be influenced by a diverse range of transporter proteins that serve as crucial players in drug distribution. These transporters, found within cells, can enhance or reduce local drug concentrations by facilitating the influx or efflux of drugs. For instance, the expression of xenobiotic transporters can be influenced by factors such as age and gender, potentially impacting the linearity of drug response.
Polymorphisms occurring in drug transporters can alter...
397
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Transporters: P-Glycoprotein and Solute Carrier Transporters01:16

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Transporters: P-Glycoprotein and Solute Carrier Transporters

The pharmacogenetics of drug transporters is increasingly recognized as a critical factor influencing interindividual variability in drug absorption, distribution, and elimination. These membrane-bound proteins regulate drugs' movement across cellular barriers by actively pumping them out (efflux) or facilitating their uptake (influx). Among the major transporter families, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and solute carrier (SLC) transporters play particularly prominent roles. Genetic polymorphisms...
189
Carrier-Mediated Transport01:06

Carrier-Mediated Transport

Carrier-mediated transport is a pivotal process in drug absorption, particularly for lipid-insoluble drugs, and encompasses facilitated diffusion and active transport. Facilitated diffusion allows drugs to move along their concentration gradient without energy expenditure, while active transport utilizes ATP to drive drug movement against this gradient.
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...
1.6K
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
4.8K
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...
7.0K
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a...
5.1K