Polymorphisms and haplotypes in the multidrug resistance 1 gene (MDR1/ABCB1) and risk of multiple myeloma

MDR1(ABCB1) gene encodes for P-glycoprotein (P-gp, MDR1, ABCB1), an ATP-binding cassette superfamily member involved in the transport of xenobiotics. Here, we investigated whether common MDR1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (1236C>T, 2677G>A/T and 3435C>T) affect predisposition to multiple myeloma. Genotyping was performed in 111 myeloma patients and 96 controls by PCR-based assays. Haplotypes were inferred using PHASE algorithm. We found comparable allele and genotype frequencies among myeloma patients and controls. Moreover, patient and control groups did not differ regarding MDR1 haplotype distribution (p = 0.18). In conclusion, our results do not support major influence of MDR1 variants on the risk of myeloma in Caucasians.