Objective To study the expression and significance of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was used to detect the expression of MRP mRNA in 25 fresh specimens of the primary HCC and its surrounding liver tissues. Immunohistochemistry LSAB technique was adopted to test MRP in 60 HCC specimens. The drug sensitivity was also tested by flow cytometry.Results The positive expression rates of MRP mRNA and MRP protein in primary HCC were 44.00%(11/25) and 45.00%(27/60) respectively. All the intensity of expression was low, but significant higer than its surrouding liver tissues (P<0.05). The intensity and expression rate of MRP protein in 5 recurrent HCC had a tendency to increase. There was a correlation between the expression of MRP mRNA and MRP protein in 25 patients using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry assay (P lt;0.05). Detected by flow cytometry, the average sensitivity of drugs in vitro of 60 HCC sp-cimens were 5-FU (15.80±7.63)%,DDP(18.45±9.59)%,ADM(17.95±7.99)%,MMC(16.60±8.69)% and CTX(17.40±10.14)%. Only 5FU and ADM were significantly affected by the expression of MRP protein (P lt;0.05).Conclusion The expression of MRP in primary HCC may be one of the important mechanisms of the intrinsic and acquired drug resistance in HCC. To study the expression of MRP could give a predictive value in HCC chemotherapy.
Citation: YAO Huihua,LIU Zhong,YAN Lnan,LIN Qiyuan,LIU Zhimin,QUAN Yi. Expression and Significance of the Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein Gene in Primary Hepatocellular Carcinomas. CHINESE JOURNAL OF BASES AND CLINICS IN GENERAL SURGERY, 2003, 10(6): 576-579. doi: Copy