Reactive oxygen species-linked regulation of the multidrug resistance transporter P-glycoprotein in Nox-1 overexpressing prostate tumor spheroids.

Expression of the multidrug resistance (MDR) transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) has been demonstrated to be regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and inhibited by intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, P-gp and HIF-1alpha expression were investigated in multicellular prostate tumor spheroids overexpressing the ROS-generating enzyme Nox-1 in comparison to the mother cell line DU-145. In Nox-1-overexpressing tumor spheroids (DU-145Nox1) generation of ROS as well as expression of Nox-1 was significantly increased as compared to DU-145 tumor spheroids.