Drug therapy resistance has emerged as a primary cause of treatment failure in cancer management.Recent research indicates that the resistance of tumor cells may stem from their high degree of intracellular heterogeneity,with the underlying basis being tumor plasticity.Tumor cell plasticity can trigger a cascade of responses,including the development of resistance to treatment,evasion of the immune system,and invasion and metastasis into surrounding tissues and the vascular system.This article provides a brief overview of the manifestations of tumor cell plasticity and its non-genetic adaptive mechanisms in drug therapy resistance,along with novel strategies for targeted treatment.