Summary
We have asked whether there is objective laboratory evidence to demonstrate the resistance of clinically observed colon cancer to treatment. A review of data from drugs tested in the human tumor stem cell assay showed that, for at least 10 of these drugs, colon tumor stem cells were less sensitive than breast, ovary, or lymphoma cells. These results were corroborated by studies with cultured cells in vitro and by studies of human tumor samples using a Fast green dye-exclusion technique. The resistance of HT-29 colon cancer cells correlated with stability of its chromatin against breakage by radiation. Interferon resistance was also studied, but was not mediated at the chromatin level. Colon cancer cells are inherently resistant to drugs and radiation. This resistance is probably multifactorial and includes effects at the membrane, the chromatin complex, and other sites not yet fully characterized.
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© 1986 Martinus Nijhoff Publishing, Boston
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Woolley, P.V. et al. (1986). Biology of Colon Cancer Resistance to Treatment. In: Mastromarino, A.J. (eds) Biology and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Metastasis. Developments in Oncology, vol 42. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2301-3_24
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2301-3_24
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