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Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection
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Polytherapy and Targeted Cancer Drug Resistance

Nilanjana Chatterjee1, Trever G Bivona1

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16(th) Street, Box 2140, Genentech Hall, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16(th) Street, Box 2140, Genentech Hall, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16(th) Street, Box 2140, Genentech Hall, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.

Trends in Cancer
|March 23, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Cancer drug resistance is a major challenge, driven by genetic and reversible mechanisms. Understanding these diverse strategies is key to developing new therapies to overcome treatment failure and tumor relapse.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cancer treatment often faces challenges with drug resistance, leading to incomplete responses and tumor relapse.
  • While genetic mutations are known drivers, reversible proteomic and epigenetic factors also contribute to resistance.
  • Tumor microenvironment and heterogeneity significantly impact treatment efficacy and resistance development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the diverse strategies cancers employ to evade drug response.
  • To explore the potential of combination, intermittent, and switching therapies in preventing resistance.
  • To highlight the role of epigenetic reprogramming in combating cancer drug resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of current research on cancer drug resistance mechanisms.
  • Discussion of therapeutic strategies aimed at overcoming or preventing drug resistance.
  • Analysis of the interplay between tumor biology, microenvironment, and treatment response.

Main Results:

  • Cancer employs multifaceted strategies, including genetic and reversible mechanisms, to resist therapy.
  • Combination, intermittent, and switching therapies show promise in delaying or overcoming resistance.
  • Epigenetic reprogramming offers a potential avenue for combating established drug resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Addressing cancer drug resistance requires a comprehensive understanding of its diverse underlying mechanisms.
  • Innovative therapeutic approaches, including combination strategies and epigenetic modulation, are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
  • Further research into tumor heterogeneity and microenvironment interactions is essential for developing effective, durable cancer treatments.
Keywords:
cancer evolutiondrug resistanceepigeneticsgeneticsmolecular targetspolytherapytargeted therapy

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