Associated expression of protein kinase C with resistance to doxorubicin in human lung cancer.

The expression of protein kinase C (PKC) in 83 untreated solid human non-small cell lung carcinomas was determined and its correlation with inherent resistance to doxorubicin, with the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-170), and with the expression of glutathione S-transferase-pi (GST-pi) was analysed. Doxorubicin resistance was measured using an in vitro short-term test. The expression of PKC, P-170 and GST-pi was assessed immunohistochemically. Twenty-three tumors (= 28%) were PKC-positive, whereas 60 tumors (= 72%) were PKC-negative. Nineteen tumors (= 23%) were classified as sensitive and 64 tumors (= 77%) as resistant to doxorubicin. Thirty-nine tumors (= 47%) were P-170-positive and 51 tumors (= 61%) GST-pi-positive. Out of the PKC-positive tumors, 21 were resistant to doxorubicin and 2 were sensitive. Of the same 23 tumors, 18 were P-170-positive and 19 were GST-pi-positive. The correlations between the expression of PKC and the resistance to doxorubicin, the expression of P-170 and the expression of GST-pi were statistically significant. Corresponding results were obtained comparing the results of all tumors with the results of a subgroup of tumors having the same histology (squamous cell carcinomas). This supports the hypothesis that PKC is involved in the inherent doxorubicin-resistance of human lung cancer.