Expression of MDR1 and GST-π in human soft tissue sarcomas: Relation to drug resistance and biological aggressiveness

• Published in: Annals of oncology 1992-01, Vol.3 (1), p.63-69
• Main Authors: Toffoli, G., Frustaci, S., Tumiotto, L., Talamini, R., Gherlinzoni, F., Picci, P., Boiocchi, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic agents; Biological and medical sciences; DNA - analysis; Drug Resistance - genetics; Female; Flow Cytometry; Gene Expression - genetics; General aspects; Glutathione Transferase - genetics; GST-π; Histones - genetics; human soft tissue sarcomas; Humans; Isoenzymes - genetics; Male; MDR1; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phenotype; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Sarcoma - genetics; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - genetics
• ISSN: 0923-7534; 1569-8041
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.annonc.a058073

Human soft tissue sarcomas (HSTS) in adults are a family of mesenchymal tumors characterized by high biological aggressiveness and general refractoriness to chemotherapy. A series of 36 HSTS, 24 untreated and 12 homogeneously treated with a presurgical chemotherapeutic regimen consisting of doxorubicin (intra-arterial) and iphosphamide (intra-vein), was analyzed for expression of MDR1 and the glutatione-S-transferase-π (GST-π) gene in order to identify molecular phenomena which may be implicated in the chemoresistance displayed by these tumors. The MDR1 gene was expressed in a greater percentage of drug-treated tumors and at higher levels than in untreated ones. By contrast, chemotherapeutic treatment has no effect on GST-π mRNA expression. The GST-π expression level (EL) was much higher in the HSTS with biologically aggressive features. In fact, significant correlations were observed between GST-π and histologic grade (p = 0. 01); aneuploidy (p