Expression of the gene for the multidrug resistance-associated protein in human prostate tissue.

To characterize the clinical relevance of MRP gene in the chemoresistance of prostate carcinomas we determined the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) expression in 30 samples from organ-confined prostate carcinoma, 9 samples from adjacent normal tissue and 4 hormone unresponsive cancers. The measurement of MRP expression was carried out by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in combination with capillary electrophoresis. Incorporated fluorescence-labeled primers were disclosed by a laser-operated fluorescence detection module. MRP expression was quantified by integration of the peak area and correlated to the ubiquitously expressed β2 microglobulin. As positive control served the adriamycin-resistant HL60-ADR cell line, which overexpresses MRP. MRP expression was found in all samples. All samples showed a lower MRP/β2 ratio than HL60-ADR cells. The expression of the MRP gene was 30% higher in organ-confined tumors than in hormone-unresponsive anaplastic tumors. Normal tissue showed the same MRP mRNA level as the adriamycin-sensitive HL60 cells. A higher tumor stage correlated with an increase of MRP expression (>factor 2), whereas G3 tumors displayed a MRP expression 30% lower than in G2 tumors. The small alterations indicate that MRP expression seems not be involved in the chemoresistance of prostate carcinomas.