Detection of the multidrug resistant phenotype in human tumours by monoclonal antibodies and the streptavidin-biotinylated phycoerythrin complex method.

The aim of this study was to find out whether the membrane glycoprotein P-170 can be detected in human tumours with both acquired and intrinsic resistance to chemotherapeutic agents using monoclonal antibodies (265/F4 and C219) and the streptavidin-biotinylated phycoerythrin complex method. Pretreated leukaemia cells and untreated lung and ovarian carcinomas were analysed. Two plasmacytomas and one leukaemia expressed high levels of P-glycoprotein, whereas two leukaemias showed moderate, and three leukaemias no expression of this protein. The intrinsic resistance was analysed with a panel of four human epidermoid lung cancer xenografts grown in nude mice. The expression of P-glycoprotein could be correlated with the degree of resistance. In addition, one out of five ovarian carcinomas revealed a high level of P-glycoprotein.