Why Tumors Become Resistant to Chemotherapy

Why Tumors Become Resistant to Chemotherapy

As one of the nation’s leading cancer surgeons, Anton Bilchik MD performs advanced surgical procedures on patients who also take radiation or chemotherapy treatments for their condition. He was interested to read the results of a new study that may show why some patients develop a resistance to an anti-cancer drug that used to work well for them.

Cells multiply by dividing. Special genes in your DNA help control the growth and replication of body cells. The SRBC gene, for example, plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth. Inactivating the SRBC gene allows cells to grow when they should not.

Cancer is the uncontrolled division and growth of unhealthy cells. Chemotherapy works by killing cancer cells while they are in the process of splitting.

Results published in the official Journal of the National Cancer Research Center in the United States, The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggest that cancer inactivates the SRBC gene. The scientists say that when patients with inactive SRBC genes receive chemotherapy, the cancer cells quickly overcome the effects of chemotherapy and survive the treatment. The researchers also associated inactivation of the SRBC gene with a poorer outcome, even with treatment.

Doctors may use research like this someday to screen patients for resistance to chemotherapy. In these cases, physicians and patients would rely more heavily on cancer surgeons like Anton Bilchik MD for surgical treatment for cancers. Contact Dr. Bilchik’s office to learn more about assessing your risk for acquired resistance to chemotherapy.