Collateral sensitivity (CS) is a phenomenon in which development of multidrug
resistance (MDR) in cancer cells confers higher sensitivity to other drugs
compared to parental cells. This means that along with advantages, MDR cancer cells
may adopt certain weaknesses. Therefore, MDR phenotype became a target for the
development of new drugs, termed MDR-selective compounds. These compounds may
exploit the overexpression of ATP Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters, directly acting
on transporters’ ATPase function or indirectly acting on mechanisms independent of
transporters activity. Herein, we review the current findings regarding the specific
mechanisms of MDR selective drugs, their potential use in combination with other
drugs or chemotherapeutics and perspectives in finding new anti-cancer options for
MDR treatment.
Keywords: Autophagy, Anti-Cancer Agents, ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC)
Transporters, ABC Transporters’ Inhibitors, Antioxidant Capacity, Collateral
Sensitivity, Energetic Sensitivity, Glutathione Depletion, Microtubule
Composition, Multi-drug Resistance, Plasma Membrane Symmetry.
