MDR1 (multidrug resistance) gene expression in adult acute leukemia: correlations with blast phenotype

Resistance to multiple chemotherapeutic agents is related to the production of P-glycoprotein, a transmembrane drug efflux pump that is encoded by the multidrug resistance gene (MDR1). To detect low-level or heterogenous expression of the MDR1 gene in acute leukemia, we have developed sensitive, specific and semi-quantitative protocols for measuring levels of MDR1 mRNA, based on the polymerase chain reaction. Using this assay, we screened blasts from 20 patients with untreated adult acute leukemia for evidence of MDR1 gene expression. The level of MDR1 mRNA was normalized to beta 2-microglobulin mRNA and was defined by reference to the highly resistant trimetrexate-selected leukemia cells MOLT-3/TMQ200 (1.80). MDR1 mRNA was observed in 14 out of 20 patients. Higher MDR1 mRNAs were observed in three patients with phenotypes of undifferentiated or minimally differentiated nonlymphocytic acute leukemia, as compared with other types of acute leukemia (0.98 vs. 0.25). In contrast, lower MDR1 mRNAs were found in five patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia, as compared with other types of acute leukemia (0.08 vs. 0.45). These findings suggest that MDR1 gene expression is correlated with the leucocyte differentiation stage of leukemia. MDR1 gene expression may, in part, explain the responsiveness to chemotherapy in these distinct subtypes of acute leukemia.