Synonyms
Definition
Drug resistance refers to the biochemical mechanisms by which cancer cells fail to respond to chemotherapy, such that there is growth of cancer despite therapy. Drug resistance is a major obstacle for the successful treatment of many cancers.
Characteristics
Based on the nature of drug resistance, there are mainly two classes of drug resistance, de novo and acquired resistance. De novo drug resistance means that resistance is present before drug exposure and selection, while acquired drug resistance occurs after prolonged drug treatment and cancer cells develop several derangements to overcome the toxic effect of chemotherapy. De novo resistance may contribute to the failure to eradicate residual minimal disease and facilitate the development of acquired resistance.
De Novo Drug Resistance
To date, several different forms of de novo resistance have been described. One of these forms derives from the mutations in some genes...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Fletcher JI, Haber M, Henderson MJ, Norris MD (2010) ABC transporters in cancer: more than just drug efflux pumps. Nat Rev Cancer 10(2):147–156
Fodale V, Pierobon M, Liotta L, Petricoin E (2011) Mechanism of cell adaptation: when and how do cancer cells develop chemoresistance? Cancer J 17(2):89–95
Gottesman MM, Fojo T, Bates SE (2002) Multidrug resistance in cancer: role of ATP-dependent transporters. Nat Rev Cancer 2(1):48–58
Kavallaris M (2010) Microtubules and resistance to tubulin-binding agents. Nat Rev Cancer 10(3):194–204
Meads MB, Gatenby RA, Dalton WS (2009) Environment-mediated drug resistance: a major contributor to minimal residual disease. Nat Rev Cancer 9(9):665–674
Minchinton AI, Tannock IF (2006) Drug penetration in solid tumours. Nat Rev Cancer 6(8):583–592
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
Cite this entry
Wang, B. (2014). Drug Resistance. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_1739-7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_1739-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences