Potential mechanisms of resistance to microtubule inhibitors.

Maria Kavallaris, Jean-Philippe Annereau, Jean-Marc Barret

Journal: Seminars in oncology 2008;35(3 Suppl 3):S22-7

PMID: 18538175

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Antimitotic drugs targeting the microtubules, such as the taxanes and vinca alkaloids, are widely used in the treatment of neoplastic diseases. Development of drug resistance over time, however, limits the efficacy of these agents and poses a clinical challenge to long-term improvement of patient outcomes. Understanding the mechanism(s) of drug resistance becomes paramount to allowing for alternative, if not improved, therapeutic options that might circumvent this challenge. Vinflunine, a novel microtubule inhibitor, has shown superior preclinical antitumor activity, and displays a different pattern of resistance, compared with other agents in the vinca alkaloid class.

Address: Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, High Street, 2031 Randwick, NSW, Australia.

DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2008.01.006

Link outs

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Actins, Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Humans, Microtubules, Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins, Proteomics, Tubulin, Tubulin Modulators, Vinblastine, Vinca Alkaloids