Multidrug resistance proteins in renal cell carcinoma.

A large number of renal cancer patients show poor or partial response to chemotherapy and the precise mechanism has not been understood yet. MDR is the principal mechanism by which many cancers develop resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and is associated with the elevated expression of MDR proteins. These are divided into two groups: ABC transporters and non-ABC transporters. The aim of our study was to determine the expression of MDR1/Pgp, MRP1 and LRP in 47 samples of renal cell carcinomas using immunohistochemical assay. Our results were analysed in relation to nuclear grade and other clinical and pathological parameters to see the possible correlation between the expression of MDR proteins and factors mentioned above. The majority of renal carcinoma specimens showed positivity for MDR proteins. In this regard, 21 % of samples revealed positive results for MDR1, 62 % for MRP1 and 76.6 % for LRP protein. Furthermore, our study displayed significant differences between MDR1, LRP and nuclear grade. On the other hand, no association was found between MRP1 and nuclear grade, as well as between the expression of three MDR proteins and other clinically relevant parameters.