Multidrug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): R. Kramer, T.K. Weber, B. Morse, R. Arceci, R. Staniunas, G. Steele Jr, I.C. Summerhayes
Primary Institution: New England Deaconess Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Hypothesis
The study investigates the expression of the mdrl gene and its association with multidrug resistance in human colorectal tumors and cell lines.
Conclusion
The study found that while mdrl mRNA was detected in liver metastases of colon carcinoma, its expression did not always correlate with functional multidrug resistance.
Supporting Evidence
- mdrl mRNA was detected in 7 out of 11 liver metastases.
- 10 out of 11 moderate and poorly differentiated cell lines expressed mdrl mRNA/Pgp.
- Only 2 out of 8 well differentiated cell lines were functionally multidrug resistant.
Takeaway
This study looked at how some colon cancer cells can resist treatment, even when they have a gene that usually helps them fight drugs.
Methodology
The study used Northern blot analysis to measure mdrl mRNA levels and assessed P-glycoprotein expression and functionality in various colon carcinoma cell lines.
Limitations
The variability in mdrl mRNA expression levels and the potential contamination of tumor samples with normal tissues complicate the interpretation of results.
Participant Demographics
The study involved 11 patients with colon carcinoma and 19 human colon carcinoma cell lines.
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