title: Immunocytochemical detection of P-glycoprotein in the management of malignant effusions.
abstract: P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a cell membrane protein, has been found in multidrug-resistant cancer cells. A total of 104 smears from patients with breast-cancer-associated pleural effusions and ovarian-cancer-related peritoneal effusions were studied for P-gp with the antibody C-219 and the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase method. Samples were taken before and 3 and 7 days after intracavitary bleomycin therapy and reaccumulation of effusion was assessed at 30 days. Smears that were P-gp-negative by the 7th day were associated with a good 30-day response to bleomycin in the majority of cases, while P-gp-positive smears were associated with a significant reaccumulation of fluid at 30 days. P-gp status is a valuable prognostic indicator of response to intracavitary bleomycin treatment in effusions from breast or ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cytology Laboratory Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Athanassiadou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Athanassiades
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petrakakou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zerva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mavrikakis
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D001761:Bleomycin; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate