Multidrug resistance

The past decade has seen the successful application of genetic techniques in the dissection of the most important phenotypes of cancer cells. In the case of drug resistance mechanisms, the elucidation of the genes involved in resistance to anticancer agents has led to new and unexpected information about tumor physiology and may well open therapeutic options by virtue of reversing clinical chemoresistance. The experimental characterization of defined multidrug resistance factors, such as P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance associated protein, topoisomerase, or glutathione-S-transferase in urologic malignancies, is now relatively comprehensive, allowing for an initial analysis. Clinical studies on some of these concepts have been started and will be the subject of careful scrutinity. We expect that they will have a considerable impact on the way certain urologic anticancer strategies will be pursued in the future.