OVERCOMING CHEMORESISTANCE IN CERVICAL CANCER: PHARMACOLOGICAL HURDLES AND NEW FRONTIERS

Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu; Christian C. Ezeala

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v10i3.1368

Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu Department of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Christian C. Ezeala Department of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.

10.22270/ujpr.v10i3.1368

Keywords:

Cervical cancer, chemoresistance, drug delivery, pharmacogenomics, targeted therapy

Abstract

Chemoresistance continues to be a significant obstacle to successful treatment of cervical cancer, especially in advanced and recurrent situations. Even with the effectiveness of cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy as a standard option, numerous patients develop resistance that greatly diminishes therapeutic effectiveness and leads to unfavorable clinical results. The fundamental mechanisms of resistance are complex and include cellular, molecular, and microenvironmental alterations that enable tumor cells to endure cytotoxic attacks. Important pharmacological mechanisms involve the overexpression of efflux transporters like P-glycoprotein, improved DNA repair abilities, avoidance of apoptosis, and resistance induced by hypoxia within the tumor microenvironment. These adaptive responses allow cervical cancer cells to counteract the impacts of chemotherapy drugs. Tackling these mechanisms necessitates a comprehensive strategy that merges traditional chemotherapy with new approaches like targeted treatments, immune therapies, and advancements in drug delivery. New approaches like PARP inhibitors, immune checkpoint blockade, and nanoparticle-based drug delivery appear effective in reviving drug sensitivity and enhancing results. Furthermore, pharmacogenomic profiling provides a tailored method for choosing treatments that considers unique genetic differences.