Glioblastoma multiforme en Chile y estudio de la resistencia a la quimioterapia mediada por transportadores ABC.

Resumen

Cancer is one of the most common diseases in the world and is the second cause of death in Chile. Despite treatment the mortality rate is dramatically high especially in high-grade brain tumors. The presence of multiple drug resistance transporters in glioblastoma multiforme, has contributed largely to the poor efficacy of targeted therapy against cancer in the central nervous system. Objectives: To analyze the percentage of survival and mortality of patients with glioblastoma multiforme in Chile and to correlate the chemo-resistance of these cells with the expression level of multiple drug resistance transporters. Materials and Methods: Brain tumors diagnosed as glioblastoma multiforme were obtained from patients at the Institute of Neurosurgery Dr. Asenjo (INCA) and Barros Luco Trudeau. The tumor cells were obtained from primary cultures and tested the expression by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and activity of multiple drug resistance transporters. Statistical analyses of tumor samples were performed using the databases of the Department of Neurosurgery of INCA. Results: The results indicate that the number of patients with glioblastoma multiforme has increased between 2007 and 2009, a 3.46% to 7.89%. The deceased patients have remained a dramatically high rate, reaching 58% of cases diagnosed in 2009. In primary cultures of these tumors verify the high expression and MRP1 transporter activity. Conclusions: We propose that Mrp1 activity is responsible for the chemo-resistance of the glioblastoma multiforme and inhibition of this transporter represents an effective treatment strategy. (Key words: glioblastoma multiforme, multiple drug resistance, ABC transporters, Mrp1).