Aims: Multidrug resistance is a major impediment in chemotherapeutic treatment of ovarian carcinoma patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and to assess the possible associations with clinicopathological variables and patient outcome in primary ovarian carcinoma.
Methods and results: Tumour specimens from 129 patients were obtained before chemotherapy and analysed by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays, and by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on RNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens using a new technique. Significantly increased MRP1 protein expression was observed in high-grade tumours (P = 0.005) and advanced International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics stages (P = 0.036). On univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with higher expression of MRP1 protein had significantly decreased overall survival (P = 0.006). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, MRP1 protein expression retained its significance as an independent negative prognostic marker for overall survival (hazard ratio = 6.52, P = 0.003). Furthermore, MRP1 expression correlated with topoisomerase IIalpha expression both at mRNA and protein level (P < 0.001 and P = 0.023, respectively).
Conclusion: In summary, in patients with primary ovarian cancer, overexpression of MRP1 is an adverse marker for patient outcome and cancer aggressiveness. Our data provide a translational basis for further clinical studies on the predictive value of MRP1 expression for response to chemotherapy.