Reversal of tumor resistance to apoptotic stimuli by alteration of membrane fluidity: therapeutic implications.

In recent years, significant development and improvement have been observed in the treatment of cancer; however, relapses and recurrences occur frequently and there have not been any current therapies to treat such cancers. Cancers resistant to conventional therapies develop several mechanisms to escape death-inducing stimuli. A poorly understood mechanism is the involvement of the cancer cell plasma membrane composition and architecture and their involvement in regulating drug-inducing stimuli leading to cell death. Although the basic structure of the biological membrane was established 80 years ago, study of the physical properties of lipid bilayers still provides significant information regarding membrane organization and dynamics. Membrane fluidity is probably the most important physicochemical property of cell membranes. Alterations of membrane fluidity can seriously affect functional properties of the cell and induction of apoptotic pathways resulting in cell death. The role of membrane fluidity in the apoptotic process is clearly exemplified as it is seriously disrupted as a result of cell injury. The molecular signaling pathways leading to apoptosis are currently promising areas of research investigation and lead to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms of tumor cells resistance to apoptotic stimuli and hence the development of new effective therapeutic agents. Recent findings indicate that most anticancer agents induce apoptosis, directly or indirectly, through alterations of tumor cell membrane fluidity. The present chapter summarizes the relationship between alterations of tumor cell membrane fluidity and tumor cell response to apoptotic-inducing stimuli. Several potential therapeutic applications directed at tumor cell membrane fluidity are proposed.