Open Access

REVIEW

Deciphering resistance mechanisms and novel strategies to overcome drug resistance in ovarian cancer: a comprehensive review

EFFAT ALEMZADEH¹, LEILA ALLAHQOLI², AFROOZ MAZIDIMORADI³, ESMAT ALEMZADEH^1,4, FAHIMEH GHASEMI^4,5, HAMID SALEHINIYA⁶, IBRAHIM ALKATOUT^7,*

1 Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
2 Department of Midwifery, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
3 Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
4 Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
5 Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
6 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
7 Kiel School of Gynaecological Endoscopy, Campus Kiel, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

* Corresponding Author: IBRAHIM ALKATOUT. Email:

Oncology Research 2024, 32(5), 831-847. https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2024.031006

Received 09 May 2023; Accepted 09 November 2023; Issue published 23 April 2024

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is among the most lethal gynecological cancers, primarily due to the lack of specific symptoms leading to an advanced-stage diagnosis and resistance to chemotherapy. Drug resistance (DR) poses the most significant challenge in treating patients with existing drugs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved three new therapeutic drugs, including two poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (olaparib and niraparib) and one vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor (bevacizumab) for maintenance therapy. However, resistance to these new drugs has emerged. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of DR and exploring new approaches to overcome them is crucial for effective management. In this review, we summarize the major molecular mechanisms of DR and discuss novel strategies to combat DR.

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Keywords

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