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Progression of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase and temozolomide resistance in cancer research

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Abstract

Temozolomide (TMZ) is an alkylating agent that is widely used in chemotherapy for cancer. A key mechanism of resistance to TMZ is the overexpression of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). MGMT specifically repairs the DNA O6-methylation damage induced by TMZ and irreversibly inactivates TMZ. Regulation of MGMT expression and research regarding the mechanism of TMZ resistance will help rationalize the clinical use of TMZ. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advances in the field, with particular emphasis on MGMT structure, function, expression regulation, and the association between MGMT and resistance to TMZ.

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Acknowledgments

This project is supported by Grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81372916), the Science and Technology Department of Xuzhou city (No. XM13B084), the “Six Talent Peaks” Project of Jiangsu Province (No. 2013-WSN-014), and Xuzhou Medical Young Talents Project.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biological Cancer Therapy, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, 221002, China

    Guan Jiang, Ai-Jun Jiang, Yong Xin, Lian-Tao Li, Qian Cheng & Jun-Nian Zheng

  2. Department of Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, 221002, China

    Ai-Jun Jiang

  3. Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Xuzhou City, Xuzhou, 221002, China

    Guan Jiang

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  1. Guan Jiang
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  2. Ai-Jun Jiang
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  3. Yong Xin
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  4. Lian-Tao Li
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  5. Qian Cheng
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  6. Jun-Nian Zheng
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Correspondence to Jun-Nian Zheng.

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Guan Jiang and Ai-Jun Jiang have contributed equally to this paper.

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Jiang, G., Jiang, AJ., Xin, Y. et al. Progression of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase and temozolomide resistance in cancer research. Mol Biol Rep 41, 6659–6665 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-014-3549-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-014-3549-z

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