The thieno[2,3-b]pyridines of general formula (I), wherein R1 is Me, C6H5, 3,4,5-(OMe)3C6H2, NH2 R2 is H, CN, COMe, COOC1-4 alkyl, COOC2H4OMe, COOC2H4 OPr(n) R3 is C6H4R6, 3,4-OCH2O-C6H3 2-furanyl R6 is 4-Cl, 4-NO2, 4-N(C1-4alkyl)2, 3-(C1-4alkyloxy), 4-(C1-4alkyloxy), 3,4-(C1-4 alkyloxy)2, 3,4,5-(C1-4alkyloxy)3 R4 is NH2, NHCOMe R5 is CN, COMe, COC6H4 R7 CO-(2-naphthyl) R7 is H, 4-F, 4-Cl, 3-OMe, 4-OMe, 2,4-(OMe)2, 3,4,5-(OMe)3 as multidrug resistance modulators to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy in cancer treatment.