Multidrug Resistance-Related Gene Expressions in Germ Cell Tumors in Testis.
- Author:
Jae Weon LEE
1
;
Sang Chul LEE
;
Wun Jae KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Urology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
mdr1;
MRP;
GST-pi;
DNA topoisomerase II
- MeSH:
DNA Topoisomerases, Type I;
DNA Topoisomerases, Type II;
Drug Resistance;
Drug Therapy;
Gene Expression*;
Germ Cells*;
Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal*;
P-Glycoprotein;
Phenotype;
Seminoma;
Testis*;
Biomarkers, Tumor
- From:Korean Journal of Urology
1996;37(4):392-400
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The development of drug resistance is a major obstacle in effective cancer chemotherapy. Multidrug resistance(MDR) is a widely studied phenomenon of interest to both clinicians and research workers because many different cancer chemotherapeutic agents are involved and the genetic basis of MDR is understood to a large extent. Several studies show that the P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated protein(MRP), glutathione-s-transferase-pi(GST-pi), and DNA topoisomerase II(topo II) have a complex role for the malignant phenotypes and MDR. Clearly, there is a need to investigate links between the diverse characteristics of tumors and the emergence of drug resistance. We have therefore used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) assay to analyze expressions of MDR-related genes including the mdr1, MRP, topo II and GST-t gene in normal testis and testis tumors. The results are as follows: 1. The expression levels of topo II and GST-n genes in testis tumors, especially in the nonseminomatous germ cell tumor(NSGCT), were significantly higher than in normal testis(p=0.015 and 0.025, respectively). 2. The MDR-related gene expressions in testis tumors did not appear to be correlated with stage(p>0.05 in each case) and chemotherapy status(p>0.05 in each case). 3. MRP expression levels in primary tumors were much higher than in metastatic tumors. 4. In NSGCT, the coexpressions of the topo II and GST-r or MRP genes were significantly correlated but, seminoma showed no correlation between MDR-related genes in the same sample. Although the mechanism of these connection are not known, the results suggest that these expression patterns and higher GST-rexpression in NSGCF compared to seminoma confer diverse characteristics including difference in the presentation of tumor markers and the responsiveness to chemotherapy on NSGCF and seminoma.
