abstract |
Assay of the mRNA levels of ERCC1 and XPAC, two genes whose products are involved in DNA repair, provides a method for determining the sensitivity of tumors to treatment by platinum-based chemotherapy. Tumors that are resistant to cisplatin tend to express high levels of the mRNA for ERCC1 which includes exon VIII. In some tumor types, concurrent expression of ERCC1 and XPAC mRNAs is also an indicator of cisplatin resistance. |