The Department of Biochemistry and Cytochemistry (OBC) studies the development of multidrug resistance in leukaemia cells and how to influence this process. The most common cause of multidrug resistance is increased expression of transporter proteins from the ABC gene family of membrane transporters. These integral plasma membrane proteins of animal cells have the ability to remove cytotoxic substances from the intracellular compartment and thus can protect cells from toxic stress due to the environment. In tumour cells, the amount of ABC transporters is sometimes excessively increased under the influence of treatment, which causes a decrease in the efficacy of anticancer drugs and hinders successful chemotherapy. Knowledge of the regulatory processes will allow for the improvement of pharmacotherapy for some cancers, thereby reducing the economic burden of their treatment.
