Expression of lung resistance protein and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in human bladder carcinoma and its clinical significance

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of lung resistance protein (LRP) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in human bladder carcinoma. Methods Sixty-two paraffin-embedded bladder carcinoma specimens were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Results Of the 62 tumor specimens examined, 42 (67.74% ) and 24 (38.71 %) were positively immunostained for LRP and P-gp, respectively. Co-expression of the two proteins was observed in 13 (21.00%) specimens. Positive immunostaning of P-gp was not correlated with tumor stage, cell differentiation and cell proliferation ( P 0. 05), but the study demonstrated a strong relationship between LRP and tumor grade ( rs = - 0.74, P 0. 001). No correlation was found between LRP and P-gp expression. Conclusion LRP appears to be a more effective factor of multidrug resistance assay than P-GP in bladder carcinoma.