Drug Res (Stuttg) 2016; 66(11): 571-579
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-111821
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Downregulation of Notch Signaling Pathway as an Effective Chemosensitizer for Cancer Treatment

M. Majidinia
1   Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
2   Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
,
E. Alizadeh
3   Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
,
B. Yousefi
1   Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
,
M. Akbarzadeh
4   Department of Biochemistry, Higher Education Institute of Rab-Rashid, Tabriz, Iran
,
N. Zarghami
5   Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 04 June 2016

accepted 01 July 2016

Publication Date:
04 October 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Despite remarkable progress in cancer treatment, development of drug resistance is still a big burden to eliminate all tumor cells and a mean cause for tumor recurrence. Recent studies have been revealed the contribution of many signaling pathways in acquisition of resistance to chemotherapy. Because of its potential in maintaining the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis, Notch signaling pathway has mean relevance to various aspects of cancer biology, from cancer stem cells to tumor immunity to multidrug resistance. Therefore, Notch signaling pathway is an attractive target for cancer therapy because targeting Notch signaling could overcome multi drug resistance (MDR). This article will provide a brief overview of the published evidences in support of Notch targeting in reverting multidrug resistance as a safer and novel approach for the improvement of tumor treatment.