Reason for Resistance to Chemotherapy in Leukemia Identified
Highlights:
- Resistance to chemotherapy may be caused by vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) signaling.
- Resistance to chemotherapy is common in leukemia.
- The discovery of this underlying mechanism may help enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
The mechanism through which certain types of leukemia resist chemotherapy has been identified by recent research at the Instituto de Medicina Molecular (iMM) Jo�o Lobo Antunes.
The culprit in chemotherapy resistance
In patients with acute myeloid leukemia, cancer cells resist the effects of chemotherapy, many times resulting in disease recurrence and ultimately death.
‘The discovery of the mechanism under resistance to chemotherapy in leukemia reveals novel molecular targets that may be used to improve the efficiency of this type of treatment.’
The team, led by S�rgio Dias, had previously shown that leukemic cells activate certain molecular signals, namely a cell signaling pathway controlled by the Endothelial Vascular Growth Factor (VEGF), which allow cancer cells to survive despite chemotherapy.
The work revealed that a metabolic alteration at the mitochondrial level derived from VEGF's action is involved in chemotherapy resistance. By creating an experimental model of leukemia in mice whose cancer cells were resistant to chemotherapy the team was able to characterize these cells' metabolic profile and observed certain modifications at the level of the mitochondria.
Overcoming resistance to chemotherapy drugs
Using drugs that specifically blocked VEGF's activation, it was possible to revert these mitochondrial modifications and render these cells vulnerable to chemotherapy.
"Our study contributes to an improved understanding of how cellular metabolism plays an important role in the acquisition of resistance to certain therapeutic agents," said S�rgio Dias.
These newly discovered molecular targets will allow the development of therapeutic strategies that may be explored as possible routes to eliminate leukemic cells' resistance to chemotherapy.
References:
- Sandrina N�brega-Pereira, Francisco Caiado et al. VEGFR-2-Mediated Reprogramming of Mitochondrial Metabolism Regulates the Sensitivity of Acute Myeloid Leukemia to Chemotherapy, Cancer Research DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-17-1166
Source: Eurekalert
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Chrisy Ngilneii. (2017, December 15). Reason for Resistance to Chemotherapy in Leukemia Identified. Medindia. Retrieved on Jan 04, 2025 from https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/reason-for-resistance-to-chemotherapy-in-leukemia-identified-175512-1.htm.
MLA
Chrisy Ngilneii. "Reason for Resistance to Chemotherapy in Leukemia Identified". Medindia. Jan 04, 2025. <https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/reason-for-resistance-to-chemotherapy-in-leukemia-identified-175512-1.htm>.
Chicago
Chrisy Ngilneii. "Reason for Resistance to Chemotherapy in Leukemia Identified". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/reason-for-resistance-to-chemotherapy-in-leukemia-identified-175512-1.htm. (accessed Jan 04, 2025).
Harvard
Chrisy Ngilneii. 2017. Reason for Resistance to Chemotherapy in Leukemia Identified. Medindia, viewed Jan 04, 2025, https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/reason-for-resistance-to-chemotherapy-in-leukemia-identified-175512-1.htm.