Resveratrol as MDR reversion molecule in breast cancer: An overview

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer mortality among women worldwide; therefore, a strategy to defeat breast cancer is an extremely important medical issue. One of the major challenges in this regard is multidrug resistance (MDR). Resveratrol, a well-known phytoestrogen, may be helpful as part of an overall strategy to defeat breast cancer. The mixed agonist and antagonist role of resveratrol for the estrogen receptor makes it a controversial but interesting molecule in cancer therapy, especially in hormone dependent cancers. Several in vitro investigations have suggested that resveratrol can reverse multidrug resistance. However, poor bioavailability of resveratrol is a potential limitation for resveratrol treatment and cancer outcome in vivo. Fortunately, combination therapy with other selected compounds improves resveratrol's bioavailability and/or a delay in its metabolism. This review summaries the available published literature dealing with the effects of resveratrol on multidrug resistance in cancer and more specifically, breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Daidzein (PubChem CID: 5281708); Daunorubicin (PubChem CID: 30323); Multidrug resistance; Paclitaxel (PubChem CID: 36314); Phytoestrogens; Resveratrol; Tamoxifen (PubChem CID: 2733526); cis-resveratrol (PubChem CID: 1548910); doxorubicin (PubChem CID: 31703); trans-resveratrol (PubChem CID: 445154).