Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase levels in nonsmall-cell lung cancer tissues.
BACKGROUND
Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity in tumor tissues is thought to play an important role in the antitumor effect of 5-fluorouracil (FU). In order to define 5-FU-resistant nonsmall-cell lung cancer, we assessed the DPD level in tumor tissues with an enzyme immunoassay.


METHODS
Using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay, the DPD level in lung cancer tissues was quantitatively measured in 52 patients with primary lung cancer who had undergone a pulmonary lobectomy.


RESULTS
The mean DPD level in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in normal lung tissues (194 units/mg protein vs 53 units/mg protein; P < 0.001). The DPD level in tumor tissues correlated with neither sex nor age. Although there was no difference in the DPD level according to the grade of differentiation, squamous cell carcinoma exhibited a significantly lower level of DPD than adenocarcinoma. However, the DPD level in tumor tissues did not correlate with the advance of disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma might be a favorable target for 5-FU-based chemotherapy in the treatment of nonsmall-cell lung cancer.
Yano
Tokujiro
T
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nakatsu Municipal Hospital, 173 Shimoikenaga Oaza, Nakatsu, Oita 871-8511, Japan.
Koga
Tadashi
T
Ninomiya
Shigeo
S
Takeo
Sadanori
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D042943:Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP); D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D042943:Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP); D005472:Fluorouracil