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  3. Overcoming multidrug resistance in cancer cells targeting ABC transporter ABCB1 with tyrosine kinase inhibitor: Olverembatinib

Overcoming multidrug resistance in cancer cells targeting ABC transporter ABCB1 with tyrosine kinase inhibitor: Olverembatinib

  • Exp Cell Res. 2026 Feb 1;455(1):114851. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2025.114851.
Bohan Zhang 1,  Xiang Chen 1,  Xingduo Dong 1,  Yidong Li 1,  Letao Bo 1,  Harsh Patel 1,  Brian Chou 2,  Shanzhi Wang 3,  Zhe-Sheng Chen 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, 11439, USA.
  • 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, 11439, USA; Great Neck South High School, 341 Lakeville Road, Great Neck, NY, 11020, USA.
  • 3 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, 11439, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 4 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, 11439, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41386459 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2025.114851
Abstract

The overexpression of ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) remains a primary challenge in overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR) in Cancer cells. This study investigates the potential of olverembatinib, a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), to reverse ABCB1-mediated MDR and enhance the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. Non-cytotoxic concentrations of olverembatinib significantly increased the sensitivity of ABCB1-overexpressing cells to paclitaxel and vincristine. Mechanistic analyses revealed that olverembatinib did not alter the expression or localization of ABCB1 but inhibited its drug efflux function, resulting in increased intracellular drug retention. Additionally, olverembatinib activated the ATPase activity of ABCB1 in a concentration-dependent manner and exhibited potent binding affinity to ABCB1 in docking simulations. These findings suggest that olverembatinib holds promise as a potent reversal agent for MDR, paving the way for its integration into novel combination chemotherapy regimens to improve Cancer treatment outcomes.

Keywords

ABCB1 transporter; Chemotherapy; Multidrug resistance; Olverembatinib; Reversal agent; TKI.

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