GST-pi and P-170 co-expression in multiple myeloma.

Bone marrow samples from 40 patients affected by multiple myeloma either treated or untreated were examined for expression of glutathione-S-transferase pi (GST-pi), P-glycoprotein and the protein product of ras oncogenes family, p-21, on plasma cells, by immunocytochemical detection. 72% of evaluated samples were positive for P-170 and 82% for GST-pi without any correlation with clinical or prognostic parameters. A significant relationship between GST-pi expression and P-170 positivity was found and co-expression was observed in 91% of evaluated samples. Expression of P-170 and GST-pi was found both in treated and untreated patients. However, patients evaluated before and after therapy showed an increase in the percentage of plasma cells positive for GST-pi or P-170 or both. Expression of p-21 was not associated with these mechanisms of drug resistance. These data suggest that different resistance mechanisms are present in multiple myeloma.