The ABCC1 transporter protein is especially prevalent in neuroblastoma and cancer cells found in the lung, breast and prostate. In non-small cell lung carcinoma and small cell lung carcinoma, higher expression of ABCC1 was indicative of a reduced response to chemotherapeutic drugs and a lower rate of survival. Similar results were found in early-stage breast cancer where the increased expression of the transporter gene correlated with shorter times until a relapse occurred and lower rates of survival. In prostate cancer, expression of ABCC1 was found to increase with the stage of the disease while allowing resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Animal studies Because of its significant role in the transportation of organic anion molecules and recent association with multiple illnesses including Alzheimer's disease (AD), the ABCC1 protein has become a potential drug target. In ABBC1 knockout mice, β-amyloid clearance is much lower than in wild-type mice that expressed the gene. Furthermore, in mouse models of AD, treatment with thiethylperazine, a drug that activates ABBC1, increases β-amyloid clearance and decreases in the amount of β-amyloid found in the brains. St. John's wort, a substance containing the chemical hyperforin, has also been shown to have a positive effect on activity levels of ABCC1. In a study of the effects of St. John's wort on APP-tg mice, an extract of St. John's wort that contained decreased levels of hyperforin increased the activity of ABCC1 by 70 percent and led to decreased amounts of β-amyloid in the brain and increased cognitive function in the mice. Interactive pathway map See also ATP-binding cassette transporter P-glycoprotein (Multidrug resistance protein- MDR1). Not to be confused with Multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) References Further reading External links ATP-binding cassette transporters