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Gaseous signaling molecules and their application in resistant cancer treatment: from invisible to visible

    Qingbin Cui

    School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511436, PR China

    Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, St John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA

    Authors contributed equally

    Search for more papers by this author

    ,
    Yuqi Yang

    Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, St John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA

    Authors contributed equally

    Search for more papers by this author

    ,
    Ning Ji

    Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, St John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA

    Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics & Diagnostics, School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, PR China

    ,
    Jing-Quan Wang

    Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, St John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA

    ,
    Liang Ren

    School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511436, PR China

    ,
    Dong-Hua Yang

    *Author for correspondence: Tel.: +1 718 990 6468; Fax: +1 718 990 1877;

    E-mail Address: yangd1@stjohns.edu

    Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, St John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA

    &
    Zhe-Sheng Chen

    **Author for correspondence: Tel.: +1 718 990 1432; Fax: +1 718 990 1877;

    E-mail Address: chenz@stjohns.edu

    Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, St John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.4155/fmc-2018-0403

    Multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer remains a critical obstacle for efficient chemotherapy. Many MDR reversal agents have been discovered but failed in clinical trials due to severe toxic effects. Gaseous signaling molecules (GSMs), such as oxygen, nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide, play key roles in regulating cell biological function and MDR. Compared with other toxic chemosensitizing agents, GSMs are endogenous and biocompatible molecules with little side effects. Research show that GSM modulators, including pharmaceutical formulations of GSMs (combined with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs) and GSM-donors (small molecules with GSMs releasing property), can overcome or reverse MDR. This review discusses the roles of these four GSMs in modulating MDR, and summarizes GSMs modulators in treating cancers with drug resistance.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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