Breast cancer resistant protein (BCRP) is a molecular determinant of the outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for centrally located early lung cancer.

Abstract

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter protein, BCRP (breast cancer resistance protein)/ABCG2 pumps out some types of photosensitizers used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and causes resistance to the antitumor effect of PDT. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the expression of BCRP and the efficacy of PDT using Photofrin, or the second-generation photosensitizer, NPe6, for centrally located early lung cancers. Using human epidermoid carcinoma cells, A431 cells and the BCRP-overexpressing A431/BCRP cells, we examined the effects of BCRP expression on the effect of PDT by cell viability assay in vitro, and investigated the expression of BCRP by immunohistochemical analysis in 81 tumor samples obtained from patients with centrally located early lung cancers. The A431/BCRP cells were more resistant to Photofrin-PDT than A431 cells in vitro, and Fumitremorgin C, a specific inhibitor of BCRP, reversed the resistance. However, there was no significant difference in the antitumor effect of NPe6-PDT between these cells. All of the 81 centrally located early lung cancer lesions were BCRP-positive (2+, 45 lesions; 1+, 30 lesions) and all the patients were male and heavy smokers (>30 pack-years). The expression of BCRP significantly affected the efficacy of Photofrin-PDT in cancer lesions > or =10mm in diameter (P=0.04). On the other hand, NPe6-PDT exhibited a strong antitumor effect, regardless of the expression status of BCRP. Photofrin may be a substrate of BCRP and be pumped out from the cells, therefore, BCRP may be a molecular determinant of the outcome of Photofrin-PDT.

• Authors: Jitsuo Usuda, Yoshihiko Tsunoda, Shuji Ichinose, Taichirou Ishizumi, Keishi Ohtani, Sachio Maehara, Shoutarou Ono, Hidemitsu Tsutsui, Tatsuo Ohira, Tetsuya Okunaka, Kinya Furukawa, Yoshikazu Sugimoto, Harubumi Kato, Norihiko Ikeda
• Journal: Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) (Lung Cancer) Vol. 67 Issue 2 Pg. 198-204 (Feb 2010) ISSN: 1872-8332 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 19477032 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• ABCG2 protein, human
• ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
• ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
• Neoplasm Proteins
• Photosensitizing Agents
• Porphyrins
• Dihematoporphyrin Ether
• Talaporfin

Topics

• ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
• ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters (genetics, metabolism)
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Dihematoporphyrin Ether (pharmacology)
• Drug Resistance, Neoplasm (genetics)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lung Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Photochemotherapy
• Photosensitizing Agents (pharmacology)
• Porphyrins (pharmacology)