MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE IN CANCER STEM CELLS: A STATE OF THE ART REVIEW

Abstract

The expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters is the key mechanism of defense of stem cells. These transporters function in the body as the guardians of the population of stem cells. Unfortunately, these very same ABC efflux pumps provide cancer stem cells in tumors with protection, protecting them from chemotherapy's adverse effects. There are currently a range of strategies under study to bypass the role of these transporters in cancer stem cells. These strategies include the production of competitive and allosteric modulators, inhibitor delivery mediated by nanoparticle, targeted transcriptional control of ABC transporters, inhibition mediated by miRNA, and targeting of ABC transporter modulating signaling pathways. This paper will examine the role of ABC transporters in cancer stem cells and will also address strategies aimed at overcoming drug resistance induced by these unique transporters. For a long time, chemotherapy has been the method of choice for the treatment of metastatic tumors, yet cancer cells also develop an almost unusual capacity to withstand the effects of chemotherapeutic agents on cancer.