How do Efflux Pumps Contribute to Drug Resistance?
Efflux pumps, particularly those belonging to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family, play a significant role in MDR by reducing intracellular concentrations of chemotherapeutic drugs. This results in sub-therapeutic levels of the drug within cancer cells, thereby diminishing its efficacy. Common efflux pumps such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) are frequently implicated in this resistance mechanism.
