Understanding drug resistance in breast cancer: Mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies

Breast cancer is one of the primary reasons for cancer-related death all around the world, and drug resistance poses a big challenge in its effective treatment. This review gives a detailed explanation regarding the complex mechanisms causing drug resistance in breast cancer, that are of two types o...

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Main Authors: Shreastha Gautam, Rashmi Maurya, Akash Vikal, Preeti Patel, Shubham Thakur, Amandeep Singh, Ghanshyam Das Gupta, Balak Das Kurmi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Medicine in Drug Discovery
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590098625000077
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author Shreastha Gautam
Rashmi Maurya
Akash Vikal
Preeti Patel
Shubham Thakur
Amandeep Singh
Ghanshyam Das Gupta
Balak Das Kurmi
author_facet Shreastha Gautam
Rashmi Maurya
Akash Vikal
Preeti Patel
Shubham Thakur
Amandeep Singh
Ghanshyam Das Gupta
Balak Das Kurmi
author_sort Shreastha Gautam
collection DOAJ
description Breast cancer is one of the primary reasons for cancer-related death all around the world, and drug resistance poses a big challenge in its effective treatment. This review gives a detailed explanation regarding the complex mechanisms causing drug resistance in breast cancer, that are of two types one being intrinsic, and the other being acquired resistance. An elaborate discussion regarding hormone receptor-mediated resistance, including progesterone receptor and estrogen receptor pathways, is provided, emphasizing alterations in signaling cascades and epigenetic modifications. Similarly, the role of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer in developing resistance through mutations, receptor crosstalk, and downstream signaling disruptions is thoroughly examined. To combat multidrug resistance in breast cancer, several therapeutic strategies have been explored. This review discusses how nanotherapeutics show promise in managing drug efflux alongside enhancing drug targeting capabilities. The article discusses combination therapy strategies because they aim to combat resistance through multiple simultaneous target pathways. The application of phytochemicals represents a new approach for managing drug resistance through their natural bioactive compounds, which demonstrate anti-cancer capabilities. Understanding these molecular mechanisms and novel therapeutic interventions is essential for enhancing breast cancer outcomes and developing more effective strategies to combat resistance.
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issn 2590-0986
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publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Medicine in Drug Discovery
spelling doaj-art-96a2bbd9436e4019925a15f3f750fded2025-08-20T02:01:42ZengElsevierMedicine in Drug Discovery2590-09862025-06-012610021010.1016/j.medidd.2025.100210Understanding drug resistance in breast cancer: Mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategiesShreastha Gautam0Rashmi Maurya1Akash Vikal2Preeti Patel3Shubham Thakur4Amandeep Singh5Ghanshyam Das Gupta6Balak Das Kurmi7Department of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga 142001 Punjab, IndiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga 142001 Punjab, IndiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga 142001 Punjab, IndiaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga 142001 Punjab, IndiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga 142001 Punjab, IndiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga 142001 Punjab, IndiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga 142001 Punjab, IndiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga 142001 Punjab, India; Corresponding author at: Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Moga 142001, Punjab, India.Breast cancer is one of the primary reasons for cancer-related death all around the world, and drug resistance poses a big challenge in its effective treatment. This review gives a detailed explanation regarding the complex mechanisms causing drug resistance in breast cancer, that are of two types one being intrinsic, and the other being acquired resistance. An elaborate discussion regarding hormone receptor-mediated resistance, including progesterone receptor and estrogen receptor pathways, is provided, emphasizing alterations in signaling cascades and epigenetic modifications. Similarly, the role of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer in developing resistance through mutations, receptor crosstalk, and downstream signaling disruptions is thoroughly examined. To combat multidrug resistance in breast cancer, several therapeutic strategies have been explored. This review discusses how nanotherapeutics show promise in managing drug efflux alongside enhancing drug targeting capabilities. The article discusses combination therapy strategies because they aim to combat resistance through multiple simultaneous target pathways. The application of phytochemicals represents a new approach for managing drug resistance through their natural bioactive compounds, which demonstrate anti-cancer capabilities. Understanding these molecular mechanisms and novel therapeutic interventions is essential for enhancing breast cancer outcomes and developing more effective strategies to combat resistance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590098625000077Multidrug resistanceBreast cancerCombination therapyNanotherapeuticsPhytoconstituents
spellingShingle Shreastha Gautam
Rashmi Maurya
Akash Vikal
Preeti Patel
Shubham Thakur
Amandeep Singh
Ghanshyam Das Gupta
Balak Das Kurmi
Understanding drug resistance in breast cancer: Mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies
Medicine in Drug Discovery
Multidrug resistance
Breast cancer
Combination therapy
Nanotherapeutics
Phytoconstituents
title Understanding drug resistance in breast cancer: Mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies
title_full Understanding drug resistance in breast cancer: Mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies
title_fullStr Understanding drug resistance in breast cancer: Mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies
title_full_unstemmed Understanding drug resistance in breast cancer: Mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies
title_short Understanding drug resistance in breast cancer: Mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies
title_sort understanding drug resistance in breast cancer mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies
topic Multidrug resistance
Breast cancer
Combination therapy
Nanotherapeutics
Phytoconstituents
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590098625000077
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