Group:SMART:P-glycoprotein: Why Cancer Drugs Fail: Difference between revisions

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==So... What <i>is</i> P-gp?==

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an active transporter in the cell membrane of liver, blood-brain barrier and small intestine cells. P-gp’s role is to guard the body against foreign and harmful substances by transporting “toxins” out of the cells. P-gp is one of the body’s best line of defense against harmful toxins; it prevents damage to cells. Normally, P-gp would be considered a protein that is beneficial for the protection of our body, but in the case with pharmaceuticals, it is considered an obstacle. Drug companies have produced drugs that can possibly treat cancer; however, P-gp recognizes these drugs as harmful or toxic to the body. As a result, P-gp would eject the drug before it can take its desired effects on the body. Nevertheless, P-gp is crucial to the human body. For example, P-gp in liver cells help remove toxins in blood cells. The P-gp in blood-brain barrier cells protect the brain from dangerous ~~substance~~ in the blood~~. The~~ P-gp in the small ~~intestines~~ help remove toxins from digested food.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an active transporter in the cell membrane of liver, blood-brain barrier and small intestine cells. P-gp’s role is to guard the body against foreign and harmful substances by transporting “toxins” out of the cells. P-gp is one of the body’s best line of defense against harmful toxins; it prevents damage to cells. Normally, P-gp would be considered a protein that is beneficial for the protection of our body, but in the case with pharmaceuticals, it is considered an obstacle. Drug companies have produced drugs that can possibly treat cancer; however, P-gp recognizes these drugs as harmful or toxic to the body. As a result, P-gp would eject the drug before it can take its desired effects on the body. Nevertheless, P-gp is crucial to the human body. For example, P-gp in liver cells help remove toxins in blood cells. The P-gp in blood-brain barrier cells protect the brain from dangerous substances in the blood while the P-gp in the small intestine help remove toxins from digested food.

==Our Model==

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==Medical Implications==

[[Image:Medical Implications.jpg|250px|left]]

The function of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) provides the tumor cells of cancer patients with resistance to a variety of anti-cancer drugs such as Vincristine because it pumps out any drugs that enter the tumor cells. Due to such activities, the dosage of drugs that enter the cell is inadequate in fulfilling its duty and taking its desired effect.

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Verapamil, a P-gp inhibitor, helps anti-cancer drugs go into cells by “distracting” P-gp; thus, decreasing P-gp’s activity on anti-cancer drugs. For example, when an anticancer drug such as, Vincristine, is taken with Verapamil, the effects are beneficial to the patient because P-gp is focused on taking Verapamil so that Vincristine can get into the cell. This offers promise in increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with cancer through the combined use of anticancer drugs with P-glycoprotein inhibitors (in doses determined for each individual).

==Additional Resources==

For additional information, see: [[Cancer]]

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 ==So... What <i>is</i> P-gp?==
-P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an active transporter in the cell membrane of liver, blood-brain barrier and small intestine cells. P-gp’s role is to guard the body against foreign and harmful substances by transporting “toxins” out of the cells. P-gp is one of the body’s best line of defense against harmful toxins; it prevents damage to cells. Normally, P-gp would be considered a protein that is beneficial for the protection of our body, but in the case with pharmaceuticals, it is considered an obstacle. Drug companies have produced drugs that can possibly treat cancer; however, P-gp recognizes these drugs as harmful or toxic to the body. As a result, P-gp would eject the drug before it can take its desired effects on the body. Nevertheless, P-gp is crucial to the human body. For example, P-gp in liver cells help remove toxins in blood cells. The P-gp in blood-brain barrier cells protect the brain from dangerous substance in the blood. The P-gp in the small intestines help remove toxins from digested food.
+P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an active transporter in the cell membrane of liver, blood-brain barrier and small intestine cells. P-gp’s role is to guard the body against foreign and harmful substances by transporting “toxins” out of the cells. P-gp is one of the body’s best line of defense against harmful toxins; it prevents damage to cells. Normally, P-gp would be considered a protein that is beneficial for the protection of our body, but in the case with pharmaceuticals, it is considered an obstacle. Drug companies have produced drugs that can possibly treat cancer; however, P-gp recognizes these drugs as harmful or toxic to the body. As a result, P-gp would eject the drug before it can take its desired effects on the body. Nevertheless, P-gp is crucial to the human body. For example, P-gp in liver cells help remove toxins in blood cells. The P-gp in blood-brain barrier cells protect the brain from dangerous substances in the blood while the P-gp in the small intestine help remove toxins from digested food.
 ==Our Model==
@@ Line 41: / Line 40: @@
 ==Medical Implications==
+[[Image:Medical Implications.jpg|250px|left]]
 The function of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) provides the tumor cells of cancer patients with resistance to a variety of anti-cancer drugs such as Vincristine because it pumps out any drugs that enter the tumor cells. Due to such activities, the dosage of drugs that enter the cell is inadequate in fulfilling its duty and taking its desired effect.
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 Verapamil, a P-gp inhibitor, helps anti-cancer drugs go into cells by “distracting” P-gp; thus, decreasing P-gp’s activity on anti-cancer drugs. For example, when an anticancer drug such as, Vincristine, is taken with Verapamil, the effects are beneficial to the patient because P-gp is focused on taking Verapamil so that Vincristine can get into the  cell. This offers promise in increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with cancer through the combined use of anticancer drugs with P-glycoprotein inhibitors (in doses determined for each individual).
+==Additional Resources==
+For additional information, see: [[Cancer]]
+<br />