Abstract
Despite improved knowledge and advanced treatments of gliomas, the overall survival rate for glioma patients remains low. Gliomas comprise of significant cell heterogeneity that contains a large number of multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotypes and cancer stem cells (CSCs), a combination that may contribute to the resistance to treatment. This article reviews the MDR related genes, major-vault protein (MVP), anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) and the molecular mechanisms that may contribute to chemoresistance, in addition to the upregulated MDR phenotypes present in CSCs that has recently been identified in gliomas. Moreover, future potential therapies that modulate MDR phenotypes and CSCs are also reviewed. An improved understanding of MDR may lead to a combined treatment, targeting both CSCs and their protective MDR phenotypes leading eventually to attractive strategies for the treatment of gliomas.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / genetics
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / physiology
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
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ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics
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ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / physiology
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
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Drug Resistance, Multiple / genetics
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Drug Resistance, Multiple / physiology
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Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
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Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / physiology*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
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Genes, bcl-2 / physiology
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Glioma / drug therapy*
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Glioma / genetics
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Humans
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Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins / genetics
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Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins / physiology
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Multigene Family
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Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
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Neoplasm Proteins / physiology
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Neoplastic Stem Cells / physiology
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Vault Ribonucleoprotein Particles / genetics
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Vault Ribonucleoprotein Particles / physiology
Substances
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ABCG2 protein, human
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
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ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins
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Neoplasm Proteins
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Vault Ribonucleoprotein Particles
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major vault protein