Cancer stem cells and nanomedicine: new opportunities to combat multidrug resistance?. Issue 9 (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dalpiaz, Alessandro; Paganetto, Guglielmo; Botti, Giada; Pavan, Barbara
• Is Part Of: Drug discovery today. Volume 25:Issue 9(2020)
• Page Start: 1651
• Page End: 1667
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Drugs -- Design -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Research -- Periodicals; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.07.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-6446

Abstract

Highlights: Combined efflux transport and enzyme activity induces cancer multidrug resistance. A subpopulation of stem-like cells (CSCs) induces the renewal of cancer. Conventional chemotherapy can destroy cancer high proliferating cells but not CSCs. Natural compounds or their derivatives can be efficacious against CSCs. Nanotechnologies can support combinational treatments for cancer eradication. Abstract : 'Multidrug resistance' (MDR) is a difficult challenge for cancer treatment. The combined role of cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) and active efflux transporters (AETs) in cancer cells appears relevant in inducing MDR. Chemotherapeutic drugs can be substrates of both CYPs and AETs and CYP inducers or inhibitors can produce the same effects on AETs. In addition, a small subpopulation of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) appears to survive conventional chemotherapy, leading to recurrent disease. Natural products appear efficacious against CSCs; their combinational treatments with standard chemotherapy are promising for cancer eradication, in particular when supported by nanotechnologies. Teaser: Nanotechnologies support combinational treatments of natural products with standard chemotherapies against cancer multidrug resistance, mainly induced by related enzymatic-efflux transporter activities and by a subpopulation of cancer stem-like cells.