Correlation of expression of multidrug resistance protein and messenger RNA with ~(99m)Tc-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) imaging in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

摘要

AIM: To explore whether P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and other pumps, multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) and lung resistance protein (LRP), could affect tumor accumulation and efflux of ~(99m)Tc-MIBI in liver cancer. METHODS: Surgically treated 78 liver cancer patients were included in this study. Before surgery, ~(99m)Tc-MIBI SPECT was performed 15 min and 120 min after injection of 20 mCi ~(99m)Tc-MIBI, respectively. Early uptake, delayed uptake (L/Nd), and washout rate (L/Nwr) of ~(99m)Tc-MIBI were obtained. Expressions of Pgp, MRP and LRP were investigated with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Messenger RNA (mRNA) level of Pgp, MRP and LRP was determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: No ~(99m)Tc-MIBI uptakes in tumor lesions of 68 of 78 (87.2%) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were found on ~(99m)Tc-MIBI SPECT. P-gp expression was observed in tumor tissues of the patients with no uptake of ~(99m)Tc-MIBI (P < 0.017). No appreciable correlation was found between liver cancer ~(99m)Tc-MIBI images and expression of MRP or LRP on the level of protein or mRNA. CONCLUSION: ~(99m)Tc-MIBI SPECT is noninvasive, and useful in predicting the presence of MDR1 gene-encoded Pgp in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.