Expression of multidrug-associated protein, P-glycoprotein, P53 and Bel-2 proteins in bladder cancer and clinical implication

The expression of multidrug resistant proteins in bladder cancer and clinical implication was studied. Expression of multidrug-associated protein (MRP), P-glycoprotein (P-gp), P53 and Bcl-2 proteins were detected by using immunohistochemical method in 40 specimens of bladder transitional cell carcinoma. The results showed that the positive rate of MRP, P-gp, P53 and Bcl-2 was 52.5%, 57.5%, 47.5% and 62.5% respectively. The positive rate of MRP, P-gp, P53 and Bcl-2 in the grade I , I and I of tumors was 46.3%, 38.5% , 38.5% , 23.1% ; 52.9%, 39.8 %, 47.1%, 76.4%; 60.0%, 80.0%, 60.0%, 90.0% respectively. The positive rate of MRP, P-gp, P53 and Bcl-2 in 24 primary tumor specimens was 37.5%, 41.7%, 33.3% , 45.8 % and that in 16 cases in recurrent specimens receiving chemotherapy 75.0%, 81.3%, 68.8%, 87.5% respectively. It was suggested the positive rate of MRP, P-gp, P53 and Bcl-2 was increased with the advance of tumor grade. The positive rate of four proteins in all recurrent cases was significantly increased (P<0.05). The expression of MRP, P-gp, P53 and Bcl-2 proteins might be the important factors for chemotherapy failure.