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Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Live Imaging to Study Microtubule Dynamic Instability in Taxane-resistant Breast Cancers
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Tubulin Proteins in Cancer Resistance: A Review

Mohammad Amjad Kamal1, Maryam Hassan Al-Zahrani2, Salman Hasan Khan3

  • 1Metabolomics and Enzymology Unit, Fundamental and Applied Biology Group, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.

Current Drug Metabolism
|February 27, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells resist chemotherapy by altering cell cycle genes, leading to drug resistance. This review explores resistance mechanisms and natural compounds for new chemotherapy strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cancer cells exhibit altered cell cycle genes or mutations, resulting in uncontrolled proliferation.
  • Dysregulation of mitosis due to genetic alterations drives tumor progression and drug resistance.
  • Antimitotic agents like vinca alkaloids and taxanes target microtubule proteins (α-β-tubulin heterodimers) crucial for cell division.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review key targets in cancer cells that confer resistance to antimitotic chemotherapy.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which cancer cells develop resistance to established drugs.
  • To highlight novel therapeutic agents from natural sources for overcoming chemotherapy resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on cell cycle regulation, mitosis, and drug resistance in cancer.
  • Analysis of the role of β-tubulin isotypes, particularly βIII-tubulin, in cancer.
  • Identification and evaluation of natural compounds with potential antimitotic or resistance-modulating activities.

Main Results:

  • Alterations in cell cycle genes and βIII-tubulin expression are implicated in cancer's resistance to antimitotic drugs.
  • Cancer cells develop resistance, rendering initial chemotherapy regimens ineffective over time.
  • Natural sources offer promising compounds that may circumvent existing resistance mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding cancer cell resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing effective chemotherapy.
  • Targeting specific tubulin isotypes and exploring natural compounds represent a promising avenue for novel cancer treatments.
  • A new approach to chemotherapy integrating resistance modulation is needed to improve patient outcomes.
Keywords:
Cancerchemotherapyresistancetubulinvincaα-β-tubulin heterodimers.

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