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MRP3 gene expression correlates with NRF2 mutations in lung squamous cell carcinomas
Hidefumi Sasaki1, Masayuki Shitara, Keisuke Yokota
1Department of Oncology, Immunology and Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan. hisasaki@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
Molecular Medicine Reports
|July 7, 2012
Summary
Multidrug-resistant protein-3 (MRP3) expression is higher in male lung squamous cell carcinoma patients and correlates with NRF2 mutations. This suggests NRF2 activation may induce MRP3 expression in lung cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Multidrug-resistant protein-3 (MRP3) is implicated in drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs).
- NRF2 gene (NFE2L2) mutations are associated with poor prognosis in lung squamous cell carcinomas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between tumor MRP3 expression and the mutation status of upstream regulators, specifically NRF2, in NSCLC patients.
- To determine if NRF2 activation influences MRP3 expression in lung squamous cell cancers.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to analyze MRP3 mRNA levels in 67 surgically-treated lung squamous cell cancer cases.
- MRP3 mRNA levels were normalized by β-actin mRNA levels.
- Analysis included 14 cases with NRF2 mutations.
Main Results:
- MRP3 mRNA levels were significantly higher in men compared to women (p=0.0036).
- MRP3 mRNA levels were significantly higher in patients with NRF2 mutations compared to those with wild-type NRF2 (p=0.0002).
- No significant differences in MRP3 levels were observed based on age or pathological stage.
Conclusions:
- Tumor MRP3 expression is significantly higher in NRF2-mutated lung squamous cell carcinomas.
- These findings support the hypothesis that NRF2 activation induces MRP3 expression in lung squamous cell cancers.
- MRP3 expression may serve as a biomarker for NRF2 activation in lung cancer.
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