title: Verapamil and rifampin effect on p-glycoprotein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High expression of p-glycoprotein (P-gp) has been associated with a poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is likely that P-gp overexpression is responsible for multidrug resistance in HCC.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of potent carcinogen nitrosamine with and without verapamil and rifampin drugs on P-gp expression at the mRNA level in HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four groups of rats (n = 5) were selected with different treatments and one group as control. mRNA concentration changes were monitored using quantitative PCR (QPCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference was found between verapamil treated group and the control regarding the mRNA level. The mdr1a mRNA was significantly decreased in the verapamil group (P ≤ 0.001). Rifampin administrated group had a decreased level of the mdr1a mRNA compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.006). No significant changes were observed in HCC induced rats regarding the mdr1a mRNA level when treated with verapamil and rifampin. An enhanced expression of the mdr1a gene was found In the HCC induced animals when treated with drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Verapamil and rifampin were found specific and effective against P-gp expression in HCC. In conclusion, treatment efficacy of most anticancer drugs is increased in combination with verapamil and rifampin against most advanced HCC.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Research Center, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jalali
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Research Center, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Sepideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghasemian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Najafzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Galehdari
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Seifi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fateme
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zangene
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Arvand Medical Science University, International Branch of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Shaiesteh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dehdardargahi
keywords: Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Marla Gene; P-Glycoprotein; Rifampin; Verapamil