Drug resistance reduction

"Drug resistance reduction" refers to approaches, strategies, and mechanisms designed to counteract or prevent the development of cellular resistance to therapeutics including chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics. Drug resistance can occur through multiple molecular mechanisms such as genetic mutations of drug targets, overexpression of efflux pumps (ABC transporters like P-glycoprotein and ABCC5), enhanced DNA repair mechanisms, upregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins, and induction of autophagy. Reduction of drug resistance focuses on targeting these underlying pathways, employing inhibitors, gene editing tools (such as CRISPR/Cas9), or combination therapies to restore drug sensitivity and improve treatment efficacy. This technical term is therefore not a specific molecule, protein, or receptor but encapsulates a pharmacological and biomedical goal centered on reversing or mitigating resistance to drugs in target cells.

Other names

Overcoming drug resistanceReducing drug resistanceReversal of drug resistance

Not applicable as "drug resistance reduction" is not a molecule. However, mechanisms for reducing resistance include: Inhibition of efflux pumps (e.g., modulating ABC transporters like P-glycoprotein and ABCC5); Inhibition of anti-apoptotic pathways (e.g., targeting Bcl-2 family proteins); Disruption of DNA repair mechanisms (e.g., PARP inhibitors); Targeting autophagy-related genes (ATG proteins); Genome editing to remove resistance genes (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9).