title: Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) in acute leukemia.
abstract: Multidrug resistance, cross-resistance to structurally and functionally unrelated drugs, is an important cause of treatment failure in acute leukemia. Multidrug resistance can result from the overexpression of ATP-dependent efflux pumps, such as P-glycoprotein and members of the multidrug resistance associated protein (MRP) family. Recently a novel transporter has been identified, which is called breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), ABCG2 or mitoxantrone resistance protein. BCRP confers resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, such as mitoxantrone, doxorubicin and daunorubicin. This review describes BCRP detection techniques and the normal physiology of BCRP. The role of BCRP in the physiology of hematopoietic stem cells is addressed as well as the involvement of BCRP in multidrug resistance in acute leukemia. In AML and ALL, several studies showed that BCRP is expressed and functionally active at low, but variable levels. However, further studies are warranted to investigate its effect on clinical outcome, and explore whether patients could benefit from the combination of BCRP inhibitors and chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sabine L A
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Plasschaert
authors.forename: Dorina M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Van Der Kolk
authors.forename: Eveline S J M
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: De Bont
authors.forename: Edo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vellenga
authors.forename: Willem A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Kamps
authors.forename: Elisabeth G E
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: De Vries
mesh_terms: D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D000208:Acute Disease; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple / Q000502:physiology*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C116614:ABCG2 protein, human; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins