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Expression of the MRP gene has been demonstrated in vitro to be a casual factor in non-P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance, and is implicated in resistance to a number of the chemotherapeutic agents currently used in the treatment of high-grade transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder (doxorubicin, epirubicin and vinblastine). Using a sensitive RT-PCR-based technique, we have quantified MRP mRNA levels in a series of untreated TCC (n=24), normal bladder (n=5) and control tissue and cell line samples. MRP mRNA was widely expressed and detectable in all samples analysed, with considerable (up to 190-fold) variation observed between individual tumour samples. MRP mRNA levels found in TCC samples were lower than those determined for normal peripheral mononucleocyte (2.3-fold) and testis (4.1-fold) samples, previously reported to be high-expressing tissues, and varied over a similar range to that observed in normal bladder samples. Results indicate that MRP mRNA levels in a greater proportion of high-grade (G3) bladder tumours (55%, 6/11) are significantly reduced (P=0.018) compared with low- and moderate-grade (G1/2) bladder tumours (8%, 1/13), and suggest that MRP mRNA levels frequently become reduced as a consequence of tumour progression to advanced, poorly differentiated disease. No correlation was apparent between MRP and MDR1 mRNA levels, thus providing no evidence to suggest common regulation of the two genes. In a limited number of patients, no evidence was found to support a role for MRP mRNA levels as a determinant of response to chemotherapy in patients being uniformly treated with either cisplatin-methotrexate-vinblastine (n=6) or epirubicin-cisplatin-methotrexate (n=4) regimens. Similarly, no overall pattern of altered MRP mRNA expression was observed following chemotherapy in four patients from whom post chemotherapy biopsies were taken. This study provides a useful pilot investigation regarding the level, variation and pattern of MRP mRNA expression in TCC of the bladder, and suggests that further studies to establish the clinical significance of these variations are required.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Cancer

Publication Date

03/1996

Volume

73

Pages

659 - 666

Keywords

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters, ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1, Base Sequence, Carcinoma, Transitional Cell, Drug Resistance, Multiple, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Molecular Sequence Data, Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins, Neoplasm Proteins, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, Neoplasm Staging, RNA, Messenger, Urinary Bladder Neoplasms