Increased expression of multidrug resistance-associated genes after chemotherapy in pediatric solid malignancies

Background/Purpose

The overexpression of multidrug resistance (MDR)-associated genes in primary untreated tumors has been proven to be associated with worse prognosis in various pediatric malignancies. This study compared the expression of 3 MDR-associated genes, MDR1, MDR-associated protein 1 (MRP1), and lung resistance-related protein (LRP), in pediatric tumors before and after chemotherapy to elucidate the mechanism of MDR during chemotherapy.

Methods

Surgical specimens of both primary and chemotherapy-treated tumors were obtained from 24 patients with pediatric malignancies (neuroblastoma [NB] 8; hepatoblastoma [HB] 8; Wilms tumor [WT] 4; rhabdomyosarcoma [RB] 4). The expression of MDR1, MRP1, and LRP was evaluated using the immunohistochemical staining.

Results

In primary tumors, MDR1 expression was observed in 6 NBs, 8 HBs, 3 WTs, and 3 RBs. MRP1 expression was observed in 3 NBs and 1 HB. LRP expression was not detected in any of the primary tumors. After chemotherapy, MDR1 expression was observed to increase in 5 NBs, 4 HBs, 2 WTs, and 3 RBs. MRP1 expression was newly observed or increased in 7 NBs, 4 HBs, and 3 RBs. LRP expression was newly observed in 3 HBs and 2 WTs.

Conclusions

These results indicate that these 3 MDR-associated genes were upregulated after chemotherapy in various pediatric malignancies. These findings may be useful to understand the mechanism of drug resistance in pediatric malignancies.