Immune signaling and drug-resistance pathways

Immune signaling and drug-resistance pathways refer to the integrated biological networks that regulate immune cell activation and the mechanisms by which cells evade therapeutic agents. Immune signaling involves complex cascades, such as the JAK-STAT and NF-κB pathways, which are essential for orchestrating innate and adaptive immunity (Source: Nature Reviews Immunology). Drug resistance pathways encompass diverse strategies, including drug efflux via ABC transporters, target modification, and the activation of alternative survival signals like the PI3K/AKT pathway (Source: Nature Reviews Cancer). These pathways often intersect in the tumor microenvironment, where immune evasion (e.g., through PD-1/PD-L1 signaling) acts as a form of resistance to both the host immune system and specific therapies (Source: PubMed/PMC). Because this term describes a broad set of biological interactions and multiple distinct proteins rather than a single receptor or enzyme, it is not classified as a discrete therapeutic target in drug discovery.

Other names

Immune evasion mechanismsDrug resistance signaling networksImmune-mediated therapeutic resistance

Not applicable as this represents a broad biological category; however, drugs targeting components of these pathways typically act via checkpoint inhibition, kinase inhibition, or modulation of drug transporters.