Correlation of expression of multidrug resistance protein and messenger RNA with 99mTc-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) imaging in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To explore whether P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and other pumps, multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) and lung resistance protein (LRP), could affect tumor accumulation and efflux of 99mTc-MIBI in liver cancer.


METHODS
Surgically treated 78 liver cancer patients were included in this study. Before surgery, 99mTc-MIBI SPECT was performed 15 min and 120 min after injection of 20 mCi 99mTc-MIBI, respectively. Early uptake, delayed uptake (L/Nd), and washout rate (L/Nwr) of 99mTc-MIBI were obtained. Expressions of Pgp, MRP and LRP were investigated with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Messenger RNA (mRNA) level of Pgp, MRP and LRP was determined by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
No 99mTc-MIBI uptakes in tumor lesions of 68 of 78 (87.2%) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were found on 99mTc-MIBI SPECT. P-gp expression was observed in tumor tissues of the patients with no uptake of 99mTc-MIBI (P<0.017). No appreciable correlation was found between liver cancer 99mTc-MIBI images and expression of MRP or LRP on the level of protein or mRNA.


CONCLUSIONS
99mTc-MIBI SPECT is noninvasive, and useful in predicting the presence of MDR1 gene-encoded Pgp in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Wang
Hai
H
Hepatic Surgery Center of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China.
Chen
Xiao-Ping
XP
Qiu
Fa-Zu
FZ
D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D019450:Genes, MDR; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000378:metabolism*; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi / Q000378:metabolism*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D020394:Vault Ribonucleoprotein Particles / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099187:Major Vault Protein
D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; D020394:Vault Ribonucleoprotein Particles; D000099187:Major Vault Protein