title: The role of thymidylate synthase in non-small cell lung cancer treated with pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy.
abstract: Pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy has been proven to be beneficial for patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the eligibility criteria for maintenance treatment are too simple. This study sought to evaluate thymidylate synthase (TS) as a predicting biomarker for pemetrexed continuation maintenance treatment in NSCLC. Specimens were collected from 87 patients treated with pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy before and after four-cycle induction chemotherapy. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect TS expression in tissues. The TS expression level was correlated with characteristic clinical data, radiographic response, progression-free time (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Low total TS expression (<8.47) was associated with improved PFS (median: 4.7 months vs. 3.5 months, p = 0.034) and improved OS (time from random assignment: 16.4 months vs. 11.7 months, p = 0.026; time from induction: 19.7 months vs. 14.8 months, p = 0.022). Our results indicate that in NSCLC patients treated with pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy, low TS expression is associated with improved PFS and OS.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oncology , Jiangsu Province Geriatric Hospital , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oncology , Jiangsu Province Geriatric Hospital , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Wei-Fei
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oncology , Jiangsu Province Geriatric Hospital , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oncology , Jiangsu Province Geriatric Hospital , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Li-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oncology , Jiangsu Province Geriatric Hospital , Nanjing , China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000068818:Cetuximab / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000068437:Pemetrexed / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011725:Pyridines; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; C559147:regorafenib; D000077146:Irinotecan; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002945:Cisplatin; D002166:Camptothecin
keywords: Continuation maintenance treatment; Non-small cell lung cancer; Pemetrexed; Thymidylate synthase