Enhancement of the Efficacy of Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer by Simultaneous Suppression of Multi-drug Resistance and Antiapoptotic Cellular Defenses

Cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapy drugs by 1) making proteins that neutralize the effects of chemotherapy (through a protein called Bcl-2) and 2) developing pumping systems that expel the drugs out of the cells (through a protein called MRP). Dr. Minko is studying how stopping the Bcl2 and MRP proteins will make lung cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs.