Reversal of drug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by adenoviral delivery of anti-MRP2 antisense constructs

Aims: Human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), are characterized by a high degree of drug resistance. The multidrug resistance transporters MDR1-P-glycoprotein and MRP2 (multidrug associated protein 2) are expressed in almost 50% of human cancers, including HCCs. The MRP2 gene encodes for a membrane protein involved in the ATP-dependent unidirectional transport of conjugates of lipophilic substances. In this study we analyzed the effect of anti-MRP2 antisense constructs on chemosensitization of HCC cells. Methods: Adenoviral vectors were constructed to allow an efficient gene transfer of anti-MRP…