An ETP model (exclusion-tolerance-progression) for multi drug resistance

• Main Author: Kannan Subburaj
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2005-04-01
• Series: Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling
• Subjects: ETP Model; Drug resistance; Drug sensitivity; Physiological drug resistance; Pathological drug resistance
• Online Access: http://www.tbiomed.com/content/2/1/17

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is known that sensitivity or resistance of tumor cells to a given chemotherapeutic agent is an acquired characteristic(s), depending on the heterogeneity of the tumor mass subjected to the treatment. The clinical success of a chemotherapeutic regimen depends on the ratio of sensitive to resistant cell populations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Based on findings from clinical and experimental studies, a unifying model is proposed to delineate the potential mechanism by which tumor cells progress towards multi drug resistance, resulting in failure of chemotherapy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is suggested that the evolution of multi drug resistance is a developmentally orchestrated event. Identifying stage-specific time windows during this process would help to identify valid therapeutic targets for the effective elimination of malignancy.</p>