5-fluorouracil sensitivity and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase activity in advanced gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the rate-limiting enzyme of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) catabolism. Several studies have demonstrated the clinical importance of DPD in cancer patients, suggesting that the efficacy of 5-FU may be related to DPD activity in tumor tissue. In the present study, DPD activity and chemosensitivity to 5-FU were evaluated in advanced gastric cancer.


METHODS
Thirty-four gastric cancers from 32 patients were studied and chemosensitivity to 5-FU was evaluated by histoculture drug response assay.


CONCLUSIONS
DPD activity and tumor inhibition of 5-FU among all cases showed no significant correlation, but among 14 histologically differentiated cases significant correlation was observed. DPD activity may be useful in determining the 5-FU sensitivity of differentiated gastric cancer.
Inada
T
T
Department of Surgery, Tochigi Cancer Center, Utsunomiya, Japan. tinada@tcc.pref.tochigi.jp
Ogata
Y
Y
Kubota
T
T
Tomikawa
M
M
Yamamoto
S
S
Andoh
J
J
Ozawa
I
I
Hishinuma
S
S
Shimizu
H
H
Kotake
K
K
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042943:Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP); D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D042943:Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP); D005472:Fluorouracil