Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Methods to Classify Cytoplasmic Foci as Mammalian Stress Granules
Published on: May 12, 2017
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.
Abstract:
The assembly of stress granules (SGs) is a conserved mechanism to regulate protein synthesis under cell stress, where the translation of global protein is silenced and selective protein synthesis for survival maintains. SG formation confers survival advantages and chemotherapeutic resistance to malignant cells. Targeting SG assembly may represent a potential treatment strategy to overcome the primary and acquired chemotherapeutic resistance and enhance curative effect. We conduct a comprehensive review of the published literatures focusing on the drugs that potentially induce SGs and the related mechanism, retrospect the relationship between SGs and drug resistance related proteins, illuminate the regulated pathways and potential targets for SG assembly, and discuss future directions of overcoming the resistance to chemotherapy.
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 Microtubules
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists
Destabilization of Microtubules
Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells

