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Current Protein & Peptide Science

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1389-2037
ISSN (Online): 1875-5550

Multidrug Resistance and Cancer: The Role of the Human ABC Transporter ABCG2

Author(s): Karin F. K. Ejendal and Christine A. Hrycyna

Volume 3, Issue 5, 2002

Page: [503 - 511] Pages: 9

DOI: 10.2174/1389203023380521

Price: $65

Abstract

A variety of human cancers become resistant or are intrinsically resistant to treatment with conventional chemotherapy, a phenomenon called multidrug resistance. This broad-based resistance results in large part, but not solely, from overexpression of members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily of membrane transporters, including Pglycoprotein, various members of the multidrug resistance associated proteins (MRPs), and ABCG2, also known as MXR1, BCRP, and ABCP. When overexpressed in cell lines, ABCG2 has the ability to confer high levels of resistance to anthracyclines, mitoxantrone, bisantrene, and the camptothecins topotecan and SN-38. This review focuses on the discovery, the biochemistry and the normal physiology of human ABCG2, a novel ABC half transporter expressed abundantly in placenta, as well as in liver, intestine and stem cells. ABCG2 may serve a protective function by preventing toxins from entering cells as well as potentially playing a role in regulating stem cell differentia tion. We also discuss the involvement of ABCG2 in multidrug resistance in cancer, especially with regard to acute myeloid leukemia. The mechanism by which substrates are recognized by ABCG2 and how the energy of ATP hydrolysis is transduced into transport remain elusive. A complete understanding of the mechanism and biological function of ABCG2 will be important for understanding its normal physiology as well as potentially for the development of novel chemotherapeutic treatment strategies.

Keywords: Multidrug Resistance


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