[Expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter genes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the differences in the expression of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes between normal nasopharyngeal tissue and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).


METHODS
Real-time quantitative PCR was used to examine the gene expression of 10 ABC transporters in both NPC and normal nasopharyngeal tissue.


RESULTS
The 10 drug resistance-associated ABC transporters were expressed at different levels in NPC. ABCA2 and ABCC3 genes were strongly expressed in both the NPC and normal nasopharyngeal tissues, and ABCC1, ABCC5 and ABCG2 gene expressions were significantly higher in NPC than in normal nasopharyngeal tissue, whereas the ABCB1, ABCC2, ABCC3, ABCC4, ABCC6 and ABCC11 genes were all expressed at low levels in both the carcinoma and normal tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
The transporters with high expressions in both the cancer and normal samples are correlated to the naturally occurring multidrug resistance of NPC, and those with high expression only in NPC may play an important role in drug resistance to chemotherapeuatic agents. The agents targeting the ABC transporters that are lowly expressed in both the carcinoma and normal tissues might serve as sensitivitive chemotherapeutics against NPC.
DU
Sha-sha
SS
Cancer Research Institute, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. rengl@fimmu.com
Yao
Kai-tai
KT
D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D000089762:Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000089762:Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C000715087:ABCC2 protein, human; C120809:ABCC5 protein, human; C116614:ABCG2 protein, human; C421109:multidrug resistance-associated protein 1