Expression of the mdr1 gene in bone and soft tissue sarcomas of adult patients.

The expression of the mdr1 gene was evaluated at the RNA level by northern and slot blot analysis, and at the protein level by immunohistochemistry, in a total of 29 bone and 32 soft tissue sarcomas. All patients, mainly adults, had not received previous chemotherapy. Of the tumours investigated, 69% were mdr1-positive. An intermediate mdr1 expression was observed most frequently, with the exception of osteosarcomas (high) and malignant fibrous histiocytomas (low). Detection of P-glycoprotein in selected tumours revealed consistent results. However, no conclusion can be drawn as yet regarding correlation of mdr1 expression and drug resistance in patients.