Therapeutic resistance and combination therapy for cancer: recent developments and future directions

doi:10.1038/s41598-025-12725-w

Editorial

. 2025 Jul 24;15(1):26881.

doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-12725-w.

Therapeutic resistance and combination therapy for cancer: recent developments and future directions

Chendil Damodaran¹, Je-Yoel Cho², Cenap Güngör³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
² Department of Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and BK21 FOUR Future Veterinary Medicine Leading Education and Research Center, Comparative Medicine Disease Research Center (CDRC), Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
³ Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. c.guengoer@uke.de.

PMID: 40707669
PMCID: PMC12289883
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-12725-w

Editorial

Therapeutic resistance and combination therapy for cancer: recent developments and future directions

Chendil Damodaran et al. Sci Rep. 2025.

. 2025 Jul 24;15(1):26881.

doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-12725-w.

Authors

Chendil Damodaran¹, Je-Yoel Cho², Cenap Güngör³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
² Department of Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and BK21 FOUR Future Veterinary Medicine Leading Education and Research Center, Comparative Medicine Disease Research Center (CDRC), Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
³ Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. c.guengoer@uke.de.

PMID: 40707669
PMCID: PMC12289883
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-12725-w

Abstract

The diverse and heterogeneous nature of cancer is a fundamental characteristic that is responsible for therapy resistance, progression, and recurrence of disease. In order to enhance therapeutic efficacy, novel combination therapies are currently being proposed and utilized in clinical practice to effectively manage or retard disease progression. Several factors contribute to therapeutic resistance, including elevated expression of survival factors, mutations in genes that limit therapeutic effectiveness, multidrug resistance, and the potential involvement of cancer stem cells. This Scientific Reports Collection covers the underlying mechanisms responsible for therapeutic resistance. Additionally, the publications from this Collection highlight numerous innovative molecules to overcome this resistance and significantly sensitize tumors across various cancer models.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

References

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1. Rosell, R. et al. Erlotinib versus standard chemotherapy as first-line treatment for European patients with advanced EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (EURTAC): a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol.13, 239–246. 10.1016/S1470-2045(11)70393-X (2012). - PubMed
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[1] DeVita, V. T. Jr. & Chu, E. A history of cancer chemotherapy. Cancer Res.68, 8643–8653. 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-6611 (2008). - PubMed

[2] DeVita, V. T. Jr. & Chu, E. A history of cancer chemotherapy. Cancer Res.68, 8643–8653. 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-6611 (2008). - PubMed

[3] Cohen, M. H. et al. Approval summary for imatinib mesylate capsules in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Clin. Cancer Res.8, 935–942 (2002). - PubMed

[4] Cohen, M. H. et al. Approval summary for imatinib mesylate capsules in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Clin. Cancer Res.8, 935–942 (2002). - PubMed

[5] Rosell, R. et al. Erlotinib versus standard chemotherapy as first-line treatment for European patients with advanced EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (EURTAC): a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol.13, 239–246. 10.1016/S1470-2045(11)70393-X (2012). - PubMed

[6] Rosell, R. et al. Erlotinib versus standard chemotherapy as first-line treatment for European patients with advanced EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (EURTAC): a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol.13, 239–246. 10.1016/S1470-2045(11)70393-X (2012). - PubMed

[7] Park, K. et al. Afatinib versus gefitinib as first-line treatment of patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (LUX-Lung 7): a phase 2B, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Oncol.17, 577–589. 10.1016/S1470-2045(16)30033-X (2016). - PubMed

[8] Park, K. et al. Afatinib versus gefitinib as first-line treatment of patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (LUX-Lung 7): a phase 2B, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Oncol.17, 577–589. 10.1016/S1470-2045(16)30033-X (2016). - PubMed

[9] Fan, W., Chang, J. & Fu, P. Endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer: current status, possible mechanisms and overcoming strategies. Future Med. Chem.7, 1511–1519. 10.4155/fmc.15.93 (2015). - PMC - PubMed

[10] Fan, W., Chang, J. & Fu, P. Endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer: current status, possible mechanisms and overcoming strategies. Future Med. Chem.7, 1511–1519. 10.4155/fmc.15.93 (2015). - PMC - PubMed

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Therapeutic resistance and combination therapy for cancer: recent developments and future directions

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Therapeutic resistance and combination therapy for cancer: recent developments and future directions

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