By inhibiting Src, verapamil and dasatinib overcome multidrug resistance via increased expression of Bim and decreased expressions of MDR1 and survivin in human multidrug-resistant myeloma cells.

The calcium channel blocker verapamil inhibits the transport function of multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1). Although verapamil acts to reverse MDR in cancer cells, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of reversing MDR by verapamil in anti-cancer drug-resistant multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines. We found that verapamil suppresses MDR1 and survivin expressions and increases Bim expression via suppression of Src activation. Furthermore, dasatinib reversed the drug-resistance of the drug-resistant cell lines. These findings suggest that Src inhibitors are potentially useful as an anti-MDR agent for the treatment of malignant tumor cells.