ENHANCED XPA MESSENGER-RNA LEVELS IN CISPLATIN-RESISTANT HUMAN OVARIAN-CANCER ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH XPA MUTATIONS OR GENE AMPLIFICATION

Enhanced expression of the nucleotide excision repair gene XPA is asso ciated with resistance to cisplatin treatment in human ovarian cancer. Understanding the cause of enhanced XPA expression will provide new m olecular targets for therapy directed at overcoming chemoresistance. E nhanced gene expression in cancer cells is often caused by mutations o r gene amplification. Molecular analyses of the XPA genes in human ova rian cancers indicate that gene mutation and amplification are not the cause of enhanced XPA mRNA levels in ovarian cancers overexpressing X PA. Altered nucleotide excision repair (NER) gene regulation in chemor esistant tumors is discussed.