Modulation of Intracellular Ceramide using Polymeric Nanoparticles to Overcome Multidrug Resistance in Tumor Cells

摘要

The development of multidrug resistance (MDR) in many tumor types is a major barrier to successful anti-cancer therapy. Among the mechanisms that lead to such chemoresistance is inhibition of apoptotic signaling in MDR cancer cells through glycosylation of the apoptotic mediator ceramide. Glucosylceramide, subsequently cannot propagate the apoptotic signal to result in cell death, thereby rendering these cancer cells drug resistant. The purpose of this study was to co-administer exogenous ceramide with a chemotherapeutic (paclitaxel), encapsulated in polymeric nanoparticles, to investigate whether MDR could be reverted by this multifunctional anticancer therapy.