Role of early plasma membrane events in chemotherapy-induced cell death

• Published in: Drug resistance updates Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 5 - 14
• Main Authors: Dimanche-Boitrel, Marie-Thérèse, Meurette, Olivier, Rebillard, Amélie, Lacour, Sandrine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2005
• Subjects: Acid sphingomyelinase; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Apoptosis - drug effects; Cell Membrane - drug effects; Cell Membrane - physiology; Ceramides - physiology; Chemotherapy; Fas; Humans; Membrane fluidity; Membrane Fluidity - drug effects; Membrane lipid rafts; Membrane Microdomains - drug effects; Fas; Membrane fluidity; Chemotherapy; Membrane lipid rafts; Acid sphingomyelinase
• ISSN: 1368-7646; 1532-2084
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2005.02.003

Most current anticancer therapies induce tumor cell death through the induction of apoptosis. However, the pathways leading to cell death are not always understood. For example, for several DNA-damaging agents the specific biochemical lesions (DNA damage) have been associated with the induction of apoptosis. However, several of these DNA-damaging agents (cisplatin, 1-β-arabinofuranosylcytosine, daunorubicin or doxorubicin) as well as other antitumor agents, such as edelfosine or resveratrol, have been recently shown to induce apoptosis via signaling through plasma membrane lipid rafts involving the death receptor pathway. In this review we focus on the role of early plasma membrane events in chemotherapy-induced cell death. Special attention is given to changes in plasma membrane fluidity, activation of the acid sphingomyelinase and the Fas death pathway in response to chemotherapy as well as their possible interrelationships.