Overexpression of P-glycoprotein in untreated AFP-producing gastric carcinoma

P-glycoprotein (P-gly), which is responsible for the phenotypic expression of multidrug resistance in cancerous tissue was stained immunohistochemically in previously untreated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing (n = 20) and nonproducing gastric cancers (n = 20). P-gly, AFP, and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) were stained in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections immunohistochemically using the monoclonal antibody JSB-1, anti-AFP, and anti-CEA, respectively. DNA ploidy pattern was determined by Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) analyzer. P-gly was significantly overexpressed in AFP producing gastric cancers (60%) than in AFP nonproducing ones (20%) (P < 0.01). When the result of P-gly staining was analyzed among the AFP-positive cases, P-gly positivity did not emerge either as a significant prognostic factor or as a predictor of the metastatic potentiality of the tumor. The intrinsic overexpression of P-gly in AFP producing gastric cancers proves its biological and morphological similarities to hepatocellular carcinoma. The significantly (P < 0.05) higher incidence of P-gly in diploid tumors indicate that expression of this phenotype might be related to the differentiation of the tumor. P-gly was overexpressed in AFP producing gastric carcinoma and the existing drug resistance, frequent recurrence, and poor prognosis might be explained by presence of P-gly in this carcinoma.