Can Alternative Pathway Activation Lead to Drug Resistance?
Yes, alternative pathway activation is a major cause of drug resistance in cancer therapy. When primary pathways are inhibited by targeted therapies, cancer cells can activate compensatory pathways to survive and continue growing. For example, inhibition of the EGFR pathway in some cancers can lead to activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway as a resistance mechanism. Understanding these alternative pathways is essential for developing combination therapies that can overcome resistance.
