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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
08:41
Modeling Chemotherapy Resistant Leukemia In Vitro
Published on: February 9, 2016
[Multidrug resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia]
Tamás Szendrei1, Tamás Magyarlaki, Gábor Kovács
1Pécsi Tudományegyetem, Orvostudományi és Egészségtudományi Centrum I Belgyógyászati Klinika, Hematológiai Osztály, Pécs, Hungary. tomasso81@freemail.hu
Orvosi Hetilap
|January 19, 2008
Summary
Multidrug resistance, specifically P-glycoprotein expression, is a significant prognostic factor in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). P-glycoprotein positive CLL cells correlate with poor chemotherapy response and reduced survival, highlighting its clinical importance.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) research is exploring new prognostic factors.
- While cytogenetics and gene mutations are known predictors, multidrug resistance (MDR) in CLL is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize multidrug resistance in 82 CLL patients at genetic, expression, and functional levels.
- To correlate these MDR features with clinical outcomes, including survival and treatment response.
Main Methods:
- MDR1 gene analysis using Light Cycler Real Time PCR.
- P-glycoprotein expression and MDR function assessed by flow cytometry (calcein-verapamil assay).
- Treatment response and survival analyzed using statistical tests (Fisher's test, Log-rank test).
Main Results:
- No significant correlation found between genetic, phenotypic, and functional MDR levels.
- P-glycoprotein positive CLL cases (89%) were predominantly non-responders to chemotherapy.
- P-glycoprotein negative CLL patients showed significantly better response rates (80%) (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- P-glycoprotein expression on leukaemic cells is a clinically significant prognostic marker in CLL.
- It predicts chemotherapy response and offers partial estimation of patient survival.
- This finding emphasizes the role of P-glycoprotein in CLL treatment outcomes.
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