Increase in expression of the copper transporter ATP7A during platinum drug-based treatment is associated with poor survival in ovarian cancer patients.

Abstract

Although ATP7A is not detectable in most normal tissues it is expressed in a considerable fraction of many common tumor types. Enrichment of the tumor for ATP7A-expressing cells during platinum drug-based treatment of ovarian cancers is associated with poor survival. These findings are in agreement with results of in vitro studies from this laboratory demonstrating that increased expression of ATP7A renders cells resistant to cisplatin and carboplatin.