Thymidine phosphorylase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase expression levels in tumor and normal tissue specimens of T3 human colorectal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) are important enzymes related to the metabolism of 5-fluorouracil and its derivatives. We evaluated the association between the clinicopathological factors and these enzymes in patients with T3 colorectal carcinoma.


METHODS
The TP and DPD expression levels in 15 patients with T3 colorectal carcinomas were measured in tumor and adjacent normal tissue specimens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlations between each enzyme and clinicopathological factors were also statistically evaluated.


RESULTS
The TP levels in tumor and normal tissue specimens were 77.9 +/- 33.6 and 24.7 +/- 10.3, respectively (P < 0.001). The DPD levels in tumor and normal tissue specimens were 44.1 +/- 18.2 and 53.1 +/- 24.1, respectively (P = 0.46). The TP/DPD ratios in tumor and normal tissue specimens were 1.84 +/- 0.52 and 0.53 +/- 0.26, respectively (P < 0.001). The tumor/normal ratios of TP level in patients with and without liver metastasis were 1.79 +/- 0.91 and 4.67 +/- 2.51, respectively (P = 0.024).


CONCLUSIONS
The measurement of the enzyme expression levels of TP and DPD is considered to be useful for better understanding the conditions of tumor progression. The mechanisms of regulation of these enzymes thus require further evaluation.
Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization, Shikoku Cancer Center, Matsuyama, Japan.
Atsushi
A
Okita
Kazunori
K
Tsukuda
Masakazu
M
Murakami
Tetsuya
T
Ota
Hiroyoshi
H
Doihara
Manabu
M
Suda
Tomoharu
T
Nakano
Kinya
K
Matsuoka
Eiji
E
Suzuki
Minoru
M
Naito
Akio
A
Andou
Nobuyoshi
N
Shimizu
D015720:5'-Nucleotidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017252:CD3 Complex; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D042943:Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP) / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017252:CD3 Complex; D042943:Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP); D015720:5'-Nucleotidase; D005472:Fluorouracil