Analysis of expression of drug resistance-linked ABC transporters in cancer cells by quantitative RT-PCR

Methods Mol Biol. 2010:637:121-32. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60761-700-6_6.

Abstract

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) boasts many advantages over microarrays. For instance, very low amounts of total RNA are required to yield highly accurate and reproducible detection of transcript levels. As a consequence, qRT-PCR has become a popular technique for assessing gene expression levels and is now the gold standard. In this chapter, qRT-PCR using two distinct chemistries, SYBR Green and TaqMan, are described. We compare ABC transporter levels in various drug-resistant cancer cell lines by employing each method. SYBR Green yields reproducible results; nevertheless, TaqMan chemistry is superior to SYBR Green, as it displays higher specificity and sensitivity. Gene expression analysis by qRT-PCR is a powerful technique and shows potential as a diagnostic tool for predicting drug response in cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*

Substances

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters