Understanding the roles of stress granule during chemotherapy for patients with malignant tumors

Yuting Zhan1, Haihua Wang1, Yue Ning1

  • 1Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University Changsha 410011, Hunan, China.

Insights

Stress granules (SGs) aid cancer cell survival and drug resistance. Targeting SG assembly offers a promising strategy to enhance chemotherapy effectiveness and overcome resistance, improving patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular stress response
  • Molecular biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Stress granules (SGs) are dynamic cytoplasmic foci formed during cellular stress.
  • SG assembly regulates protein synthesis, silencing global translation while preserving essential survival proteins.
  • Malignant cells exploit SG formation for survival advantages and chemotherapeutic resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review drugs that induce SGs and their mechanisms.
  • To examine the link between SGs and drug resistance proteins.
  • To identify pathways and targets for modulating SG assembly to overcome chemotherapy resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review.
  • Analysis of drug-induced SG formation.
  • Retrospective analysis of SGs and drug resistance proteins.
  • Pathway and target identification.

Main Results:

  • SG formation is a key mechanism conferring chemoresistance in cancer.
  • Specific drugs can induce SG assembly, impacting cellular response to treatment.
  • Understanding SG-related pathways can reveal novel therapeutic targets.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting SG assembly presents a viable strategy to combat primary and acquired chemoresistance.
  • Modulating SGs may enhance the curative effects of chemotherapy.
  • Further research into SG pathways is crucial for developing novel cancer therapies.

Related Concept Videos

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
2.5K
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
3.3K
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists01:28

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists

Neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptors are distributed across the GI tract, vagal afferents, and key CNS regions including the central vomiting center and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) Chemotherapy agents stimulate enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to release large amounts of substance P (SP). SP is a neuropeptide released by specific sensory nerves in response to many different stressors, including those in the GI mucosa affected by chemotherapy.  SP binds and activates...
416
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists01:27

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists

5-HT3 receptor antagonists, such as dolasetron, granisetron (Kytril), ondansetron (Zofran), and palonosetron (Axoli), are crucial in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and postoperative nausea. These drugs selectively block 5-HT3 receptors in the visceral vagal and spinal afferent nerves, chemoreceptor trigger zone, and the vomiting center. They have a rapid onset of action and can be given as a single dose before chemotherapy. Ondansetron and granisetron, in particular,...
487
Destabilization of Microtubules01:45

Destabilization of Microtubules

The destabilization of microtubules can occur during different stages of the microtubule lifecycle, such as nucleation or elongation. It can take place at either end of the microtubule or in the microtubule lattices as a whole. The lifespan of individual microtubules within a cell varies according to the cell type and stage of the cell cycle. During interphase, the lifespan of the microtubule is about 30 minutes, while during cell division, it is about 15 minutes. In axonal microtubules of...
3.3K
Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells01:15

Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells

Common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) are oligopotent cells that can differentiate into granulocytes and macrophages. Granulocytes and macrophages are essential for protecting the body against bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. They migrate from the bone marrow into the circulating blood to reach specific tissue sites where they differentiate and help in immune surveillance. However, they survive only for a few days and must be continuously made available to the organism to maintain a robust...
3.7K