EXPRESSION OF MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN （MRP） AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression of multidrug protein (MRP) and clinicopathological factors and prognosis.Methods: The expression of MRP in 62 cases with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was detected using immunohistochemistry method. The expression of MRP in 30 cases of NSCLC and corresponding normal lung tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. Results: this study of tumor tissues confirmed the plasma membrane and/or cytoplasm locations of MRP.There was apparent difference between normal lung tissues and NSCLC in MRP. The survival analysis of 62 NSCLC showed that the mean survival time of the patients with negative MRP expression was 69.81±17.41 months and that of patients with positive MRP expression, 25.38±4.46 months. Log-rank test suggested that the difference between them was significant (P=0.0156). It was also found that in squamous cell lung cancer the statistically significant difference between the mean survival time of patients with positive MRP expression and those with negative MRP expression (P=0.0153). Multivariate Cox model analysis suggested that the survival time was significantly related to expression of MRP (P=0.035) and lymphatic metastasis (P=0.038). Conclusion: MRP expression in NSCLC is significantly higher compared with normal lung tissues. The mean survival time of patients with negative MRP was relative longer and expression of MRP was an independent factor for prognosis.