ecancermedicalscience

Review

Proteins regulating the intercellular transfer and function of P-glycoprotein in multidrug-resistant cancer

18 Sep 2017
Deep Pokharel, Ariane Roseblade, Vici Oenarto, Jamie F Lu, Mary Bebawy

Chemotherapy is an essential part of anticancer treatment. However, the overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the subsequent emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) hampers successful treatment clinically. P-gp is a multidrug efflux transporter that functions to protect cells from xenobiotics by exporting them out from the plasma membrane to the extracellular space. P-gp inhibitors have been developed in an attempt to overcome P-gp-mediated MDR; however, lack of specificity and dose limiting toxicity have limited their effectiveness clinically. Recent studies report on accessory proteins that either directly or indirectly regulate P-gp expression and function and which are necessary for the establishment of the functional phenotype in cancer cells. This review discusses the role of these proteins, some of which have been recently proposed to comprise an interactive complex, and discusses their contribution towards MDR. We also discuss the role of other pathways and proteins in regulating P-gp expression in cells. The potential for these proteins as novel therapeutic targets provides new opportunities to circumvent MDR clinically.

Related Articles

Rachael O Oduyemi, Chizoma Millicent Ndikom, Gloria Oluwakorede Alao, Iyanuoluwa O Ojo, Faith Ayomide Ajayi, Damilola Ajibade, Abdullahi Suleiman, Hameedah Ayomide Gbadamosi, Oluwadamilare Akingbade
Agnes Chipo Tererai, Margaret Borok, Zvavahera Mike Chirenje, Liz Gwyther, Lindsay Farrant, Ntokozo Ndlovu, Simbarashe Rusakaniko
Shivani Sable, Tabassum Wadasadawala, Myvizhi Kannan, Rajiv Sarin, Rima Pathak, Revathy Krishnamurthy, Seema Gulia, Shalaka Joshi, Palak Popat, Tanuja Shet