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Diagnostics of multidrug resistance in cancer

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Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

Multidrug resistance (MDR), caused by the overexpression of two membrane proteins, MDR1-Pgp and/or MRP, is a major obstacle in the chemotherapy of cancer. The proper laboratory diagnosis of clinical multidrug resistance is still an unresolved question, and this uncertainty, in a vicious cycle, does not allow the correct evaluation of the clinical relevance of the MDR phenomenon. Moreover, inefficient MDR diagnostics hinders the de velopment of effective resistance-modulation strategies. In this review, after describing the basic features of the MDR drug pump proteins, the currently employed diagnostic methods are discussed. We suggest that a quantitative, functional method developed in our laboratory may provide a major help in the laboratory assessment of cancer MDR.

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Gergely, S., Katalin, J., Ferenc, A. et al. Diagnostics of multidrug resistance in cancer. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 4, 251–257 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02905214

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