title: Role of thymidylate synthase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase mRNA expressions in gallbladder carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thymidylate synthase (TS) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) are important enzymes in the metabolism of 5-fluorouracil, which have been examined as possible predictive markers. We conducted this study to clarify the role of TS and DPD expressions in gallbladder carcinoma (GBC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 28 patients who underwent surgical resection of GBC. We examined intratumoral TS and DPD mRNA expressions, using the Danenberg tumor profile method. The expression levels were classified into two groups, based on median values. Clinicopathological variables, including prognosis, were then compared between the high and low expression groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in the incidence of lymph node metastasis between the high and low TS expression groups. The incidence of advanced clinical stage was higher in the low TS expression group than in the high TS expression group. However, no clear correlation was observed between the DPD mRNA expression and any clinicopathological variable. There was no significant difference in the postoperative survival rates between the groups, in accordance with the expression of TS or DPD genes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low TS mRNA was correlated with a high incidence of lymph node metastasis and advanced clinical stage. Therefore, TS gene expression may help identify patients at increased risk of the progression of GBC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwahashi
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Utsunomiya
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morine
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imura
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikemoto
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hanaoka
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D042943:Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP) / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042943:Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP); D013940:Thymidylate Synthase