Orotate phosphoribosyltransferase is overexpressed in malignant pleural mesothelioma: Dramatically responds one case in high OPRT expression.
OBJECTIVE
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive, treatment-resistant cancer. Pemetrexed, an inhibitor of thymidylate synthase (TS), is used worldwide for MPM as a first-line chemotherapy regimen. However, there is little consensus for a second-line chemotherapy. S-1, a highly effective dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD)-inhibitory fluoropyrimidine, mainly acts via a TS inhibitory mechanism similar to pemetrexed. Orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) is a key enzyme related to the first step activation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for inhibiting RNA synthesis. We investigated 5-FU related-metabolism proteins, especially focusing on OPRT expression, in MPM Methods and Patients: Fifteen MPM patients who were diagnosed between July 2004 and December 2013 were enrolled. We examined the protein levels of 5-FU metabolism-related enzymes (TS, DPD, OPRT, and thymidine phosphorylase [TP]) in 14 cases


RESULTS
High TS, DPD, OPRT, and TP expressions were seen in 28.6%, 71.4%, 85.7%, and 35.7% of patients, respectively. We found that OPRT expression was extremely high in MPM tissue. We experienced one remarkable case of highly effective S-1 combined therapy for pemetrexed refractory MPM. This case also showed high OPRT protein expression Conclusion: The present study suggests that OPRT expression is high in MPM tumors. Although pemetrexed is mainly used for MPM chemotherapy as a TS inhibitor, S-1 has potential as an anticancer drug not only as a TS inhibitor but also inhibiting RNA synthesis through the OPRT pathway. This is the first report investigating OPRT protein expressions in MPM.
Respiratory Department, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa , Tokyo, Japan.
Yoichiro
Y
Hamamoto
Respiratory Department, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa , Tokyo, Japan.
Shinjiro
S
Takeoka
Respiratory Department, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa , Tokyo, Japan.
Atsuto
A
Mouri
Respiratory Department, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa , Tokyo, Japan.
Munehisa
M
Fukusumi
Respiratory Department, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa , Tokyo, Japan.
Kazushige
K
Wakuda
Respiratory Department, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa , Tokyo, Japan.
Tatsuya
T
Ibe
Respiratory Department, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa , Tokyo, Japan.
Chie
C
Honma
Respiratory Department, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa , Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshihito
Y
Arimoto
Department of Pathology, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa , Tokyo, Japan.
Kazuaki
K
Yamada
Department of Pathology, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa , Tokyo, Japan.
Miyuki
M
Wagatsuma
Department of Medical Biophysics, Laboratory of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences , Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
Akito
A
Tashiro
Department of Medical Biophysics, Laboratory of Pathology, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences , Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
Shingo
S
Kamoshida
Respiratory Department, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa , Tokyo, Japan.
Mitsuhiro
M
Kamimura
S-1; dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD); mesothelioma; orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT); thymidylate synthase (TS)