[Thymidylate synthase expression and therapeutic effect analysis of pemetrexed in advanced lung adenocarcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of thymidylate synthase (TS) in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma and its relation with the therapeutic effect of pemetrexed.


METHODS
The clinicopathological data of 38 patients with stage IIIIB/IV lung adenocarcinoma receiving pemetrexed treatment were retrospectively analyzed. The tumor samples of the patients were collected for detecting TS expression using RT-PCR, and the therapeutic effect of the treatment was analyzed.


RESULTS
TS positivity was found in 26.32 (10/38) of the patients. TS positivity was not correlated to gender, TNM stage or PS score. The total response rate of pemetrexed treatment (CR+PR) was 34.21 (13/38) in these patients, and the rate was 39.29% (11/28) in TS-negative patients, as compared to 20.00% (2/10) in the positive patients (P=0.087). Patients with low TS expression had significantly higher control rate by pemetrexed treatment than those with TS overexpression [89.29% (25/28) vs 40.00% (4/10), P=0.002].


CONCLUSIONS
TS expression may serve as a potential indicator of chemosensitivity to pemetrexed in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.
Wang
Zhi-kuan
ZK
Department of Medical Oncology, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China. wangzkme@sohu.com
Hu
Yi
Y
Zhao
Hong
H
Fu
Chen
C
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005971:Glutamates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D006147:Guanine; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase