Magnetic-Affinity Cell Sorting of Human Multidrug-Resistant Cells

Abstract

We have developed a method for isolating multidrug-resistant cells from a heterogeneous cell population using the magnetic-affinity cell-sorting system. Human KB carcinoma cell lines expressing different amounts of P-glycoprotein have been selected by use of the monoclonal antibody MRK-16 coupled to magnetic particles. This specific, rapid, and sensitive method allows the selection of viable and clonable drug-resistant cells from various drug-resistant human and murine cell populations. This method may prove useful in isolating drug-resistant cells from tumors with heterogeneous P-glycoprotein expres-sion for further analysis. [J Natl Can-cer Inst 83:565–569, 1991]