[Inherent mdr-1 gene expression in fresh tumor tissue specimens from several high-incidence malignancies].

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain frequency of inherent mdr-1 gene expression in several common neoplasms.

METHODS

One hundred fifty one surgically resected tumor specimens confirmed pathologically to be malignant from preoperatively untreated cancer patients were studied. Expression of mdr-1 gene was examined by RT-PCR.

RESULTS

The frequency of primary mdr-1 gene expression was 33.3% for cancer of the stomach and gastric cardia (17/51), 37% for cancer of the esophagus (17/46), 31.3% for cancer of the colon and rectum (5/16), 13.2% for cancer of the breast (2/15), 40.0% for cancer of the thyroid (4/10), 55.0% for cancer of the lung (5/9) and 0% for cancer of the uterine cervix (0/4).

CONCLUSION

Primary mdr-1 gene expression is relatively of frequent occurrence as detected by RT-PCR technique.