Intercellular transfer of multidrug resistance mediated by extracellular vesicles.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) poses a formidable obstacle in cancer treatment, enabling cancer cells to evade the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic drugs through various mechanisms. These mechanisms include intrinsic resistance, which is present prior to treatment, and acquired resistance, which develops after exposure to chemotherapy agents. Small membrane-bound vesicles, known as extracellular vesicles (EVs), are crucial in intercellular signaling as they transport bioactive molecules that can modify the characteristics and functions of recipient cells.