Predictive value of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase expression in tumor tissue, regarding the efficacy of postoperatively administered UFT (Tegafur + Uracil) in patients with p-stage I nonsmall-cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity in tumor cells has been suggested to be one of the factors determining the effectiveness of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In the present study, we analyzed DPD expression in tumors and investigated retrospectively the relationship between the efficacy of UFT (Tegafur + Uracil) as adjuvant chemotherapy and DPD expression in nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
DPD expression of 166 resected p-stage I NSCLC was examined immunohistochemically. Patients who were administered UFT alone as adjuvant therapy comprised the UFT group (n = 54), and those who underwent only surgery comprised the control group (n = 112). DPD expression was categorized as either high or low, according to intensity of staining.


RESULTS
DPD expression was high in 98 patients (59.0%) and low in 68 patients (41.0%). Patients with low-DPD tumors who were administered UFT had a significantly better prognosis than those who did not receive adjuvant treatment (P = 0.021). No significant difference was found between the two groups of patients with high-DPD tumors (P = 0.598).


CONCLUSIONS
DPD expression may predict the efficacy of UFT after surgery for p-stage I NSCLC. A prospective study is needed to confirm the role of DPD expression as a predictor of UFT efficacy.
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D042943:Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP); D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D005641:Tegafur / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014498:Uracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; C096910:UFT(R) drug; D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D042943:Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP)