[Expression of thymidine phosphorylase in cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study the thymidine phosphorylase (TP) expression in different types of cancer and its correlation with tumor microvessel density (MVD).


METHODS
The expression of TP and MVD was detected by immunohistochemistry method. In a series of 251 cancer patients there were 48 patients with gastric cancer, 53 with colorectal cancer, 47 with breast cancer, 56 with cervical cancer, 47 with lung cancer. Normal gastric (n = 25), colorectal (n = 25), cervical (n = 17) and lung (n = 25) tissues around the cancer were also examined.


RESULTS
The TP expression rate was 64.6% in gastric cancer, 67.9% in colorectal cancer, 80.9% in breast cancer, 82.1% in cervical cancer, and 63.8% in lung cancer, which was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P = 0.0000). TP expression was positively correlated with MVD in gastric, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers. The correlation was not statistically significant in lung cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that TP overexpression in cancer may be associated with tumor angiogenesis.
Cancer Center of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Li-na
LN
Jiang
Shi-ying
SY
Yu
Hui-hua
HH
Xiong
Meng-xian
MX
Zhang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology*; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology
D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase