Thymidylate synthetase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase mRNA levels in esophageal cancer

This study investigated the mRNA levels of thymidylate synthetase (TYMS) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). TYMS and DPYD gene expression was quantified using real-time RT-PCR in 56 patients with ESCC, co-amplified with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as an internal standard. The results were analyzed with reference to the clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of the ESCC patients. The TYMS and DPYD expression levels in patients positive with lymphatic invasion were significantly higher compared to those in patients who exhibited negative lymphatic invasion (TYMS P=0.0127, DPYD P=0.0127). Patients were classified into the groups high TYMS/DPYD, high TYMS but low DPYD, low TYMS but high DPYD and low TYMS/DPYD. The highest survival rate was found in the group with low TYMS/DPYD and the lowest survival rate in the group with high TYMS/DPYD (P=0.017). It was concluded that, on the basis of the multivariate analysis, TYMS mRNA expression is a candidate that serves as an independent prognostic factor for ESCC patients.     

5-fluorouracil sensitivity and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase activity in advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND: Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the rate-limiting enzyme of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) catabolism. Several studies have demonstrated the clinical importance of DPD in cancer patients, suggesting that the efficacy of 5-FU may be related to DPD activity in tumor tissue. In the present study, DPD activity and chemosensitivity to 5-FU were evaluated in advanced gastric cancer. Materials and METHODS: Thirty-four gastric cancers from 32 patients were studied and chemosensitivity to 5-FU was evaluated by histoculture drug response assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: DPD activity and tumor inhibition of 5-FU among all cases showed no significant correlation, but among 14 histologically differentiated cases significant correlation was observed. DPD activity may be useful in determining the 5-FU sensitivity of differentiated gastric cancer.     

Thymidylate synthase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase mRNA expression after administration of 5-fluorouracil to patients with colorectal cancer

This study explores the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) exposure on mRNA levels of its target enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS) and the rate-limiting catabolic enzyme dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) in tumors of colorectal cancer patients. TS and DPD mRNA levels were determined in primary tumor and liver metastasis samples from patients who were either not pretreated (n = 29) or given one presurgery bolus of 5FU (n = 67). In both groups a wide variation in TS mRNA levels was observed. Median TS mRNA expression in 17 primary tumors of exposed patients was 3.0-fold higher than in 19 primary tumors of unexposed patients (p = 0.015). TS mRNA expression in liver metastasis samples of exposed patients (n = 16) was also higher (5.2-fold) than that of unexposed patients (n = 48; p < 0.001). Also DPD mRNA expression displayed a large degree of interpatient variation. No difference in DPD expression in liver metastasis samples was observed between exposed and unexposed patients. However, median DPD mRNA expression in 15 primary tumors of exposed patients was 3.2-fold lower than in 18 primary tumors of unexposed patients (p = 0.027). In conclusion, administration of 5FU in vivo influences the gene expression of TS and DPD.     

Thymidylate synthase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase are related to histological effects of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary gastric cancer patients

Thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are associated with the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) based adjuvant chemotherapy. However, very few studies have investigated the relationship between these factors and 5-FU neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary gastric cancer patients. In this study, we studied the correlation between these markers and the histological chemotherapeutic effect in advanced gastric cancer with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: Sixty-two primary advanced gastric cancer patients were recruited into the study. One cycle of continuous infusion of 5-FU (300 mg/m2/day, 14 days) plus drip infusion of cisplatin (15 mg/m2/day, Day one and Day two) was performed as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Histological chemotherapeutic responses of the resected specimens were classified into responders and nonresponders. TS, DPD, VEGF expressions both before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were examined immunohistochemically. RESULTS: There was an association between the TS-low group and the responders (p < 0.05); the DPD-low group and the responders in both biopsy and surgical specimens (p < 0.01). A combination of the low-TS and low-DPD group was further associated with responders (p < 0.01). The immunoexpressions of biopsied and surgical specimens were significantly associated with each other. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary gastric cancer with one cycle of 5-FU and cisplatin was associated with histological findings in patients with low baseline TS and DPD. This dual determination may predict for efficacy of neoadjuvant treatment with these drugs.     

二氢嘧啶脱氢酶(DPD)与胸苷酸合成酶(TS)在结直肠癌中的表达及预后价值

目的:探讨5-FU代谢酶在结直肠癌中的表达及其与预后的关系.方法:44例结直肠癌根治术后分别施以5-FU为主的辅助化疗,并通过免疫组化检测二氢嘧啶脱氢酶(DPD)和胸苷酸合成酶(TS)的表达.结果:DPD阳性表达的结直肠癌无病生存期显著缩短(P=0.047),而总生存期也有缩短的趋势,但差异无显著意义(P=0.136).而TS表达与预后无关(P＞0.05),但TS在晚期肿瘤中表达较高(P＜0.05).结论:在接受5-FU为主辅助化疗的结直肠癌患者中,DPD表达可作为预后的重要指标.TS表达与临床分期密切相关,可视为结直肠癌进展的生物学标志.     

Thymidylate synthase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase activities in non-small cell lung cancer tissues: relationship with in vitro sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil.

We examined enzymatic activities of thymidylate synthase (TS) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues to determine the relationship to tumor sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). TS and DPD activities were measured in 60 surgically resected primary NSCLC tissues using a TS-binding assay and a radioenzyme assay, respectively. In vitro tumor sensitivity to 5-FU was assayed using a collagen gel droplet embedded culture drug test (CD-DST). DPD activities slightly correlated with in vitro sensitivity to 5-FU (r=0.402,P=0.013), such that tumors with higher DPD activity were more resistant to 5-FU. In contrast, no correlation was observed in TS activities. Thus, it was suggested that only DPD activity in NSCLC tissues is a potential indicator in predicting tumor sensitivity to 5-FU. Based on these results, further study is needed to evaluate the clinical significance of these enzymes in 5-FU-based chemotherapy for patients with NSCLC.     

亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶基因 C677T多态性与胃癌患者对 5-FU化疗敏感性的关系

背景和目的:亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶( methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase,MTHFR)基因变异影响 MTHFR的活性,以致影响体内 5, 10-MTHF的浓度,从而影响 5-FU的抗瘤活性.本研究旨在观察 MTHFR基因 C677T多态性对预测胃癌患者对 5-FU的敏感性和化疗毒性的影响.方法:收集经病理学确诊的晚期胃癌 75例.所有病例化疗前抽外周静脉血 2 ml,用 PCR-RFLP技术检测研究对象的 MTHFR 基因型.基因型分为野生型纯合子 (C/ C)、杂合子 (C/ T)、变异型纯合子 (T/ T)3种类型.所有患者经含 5-FU为基础的联合化疗方案化疗.结果: 75例晚期胃癌患者中, MTHFR C/ C基因型 24例( 32.0%), MTHFR C/ T基因型 33例( 44.0%), MTHFR T/ T基因型 18例( 24.0%).其中 22例 PR, 29例 NC, 24例 PD,化疗总有效率 29.3%. MTHFR T/ T基因型患者的化疗有效率( 20/24, 83. 3%)明显高于 MTHFR C/ C基因型患者( 2/24, 8. 3%)(χ 2=24. 01, P< 0. 001),同样高于 MTHFR C/ T基因型患者( 5/33, 15. 2%)(χ 2=22. 7, P< 0. 001). MTHFR C/ C基因型患者的化疗有效率与 MTHFR C/ T基因型患者之间无显著性差异(χ 2=0. 6, P=0. 439).非条件多元 Logistic 回归分析(调整性别、年龄、化疗方案、辅助化疗因素的影响)结果显示 C/ C+ C/ T基因型患者对化疗有效的可能性为 T/ T基因型患者的 0. 017倍( 95% CI: 0. 003～ 0. 102,P< 0. 001). T/ T基因型患者的恶心呕吐反应显著高于 C/ C、 C/ T基因型患者(χ 2=12.264,P=0.002).结论: MTHFRC677T基因型对预测以 5-FU为基础化疗方案治疗晚期胃癌的疗效和毒性具有较好的临床意义.     

Significance of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase (PyNPase) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) in advanced gastric cancers

We measured pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase (PyNPase), a known angiogenetic factor, and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) in advanced gastric cancers. PyNPase was expressed in cytoplasm of the cancer cells and surrounding interstitial cells. The levels of PyNPase and DPD were significantly higher in cancer tissue. With respect to tumor factors, the level of PyNPase was significantly higher in cases positive for venous invasion. We divided patients into two groups, with high and low activities of IAP and MMP-9. The level of PyNPase was significantly higher in the high IAP activity group. A correlation was suggested between the level of PyNPase and the activity of IAP. 5'-Deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) is transformed into 5-FU by PyNPase and manifests antitumor effects. DPD is a rate-limiting enzyme in the process of degradation of 5-FU. In the present study, the level of PyNPase/DPD was significantly higher in cancer tissue. PyNPase/DPD suggests not only the malignant potential of the tumor but also the efficiency of chemotherapy using 5-FU, especially 5'-DFUR.     

Combined 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and radiation therapy following resection of locally advanced gastric carcinoma

Twenty-five patients with locally advanced but resectable adenocarcinoma of the stomach were given concomitant postoperative radiotherapy to the tumor bed and chemotherapy with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). Twenty-two of the patients had regional lymph node involvement and seven had residual tumor in the surgical margins. Radiotherapy was delivered to a total dose of 5,000 rads in 7 weeks with a two-week split. 5-FU was given daily the first 3 days of each treatment period and was then continued weekly for a minimum of 1 year. At a median follow-up time of 19 months, 11 patients have relapsed, two locally and nine distally, and all have died. Thirteen patients remain alive, all but one disease-free, for a median of 21 months from diagnosis. One additional patient died of unrelated causes, free of tumor. The actuarial median survival for the whole group stands at 33 months with a projected 5-year survival of 40%. Treatment has been well tolerated.     

The role of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase expression in resistance to 5-fluorouracil in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic drugs to treat cancer patients. However, the presence of drug resistant tumor cells may cause a poor response to 5-FU based chemotherapy. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the degradation of pyrimidine bases and is also responsible for the degradation of 5-FU. In this study, we examined whether DPD expression affects the cytotoxic activity of 5-FU against head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and the role of DPD in the biological regulation of HNSCC. We constitutively expressed the DPD cDNA in a HNSCC cell line. The effect of DPD expression on in vitro cell growth, cell cycle and 5-FU cytotoxicity was examined. In addition, we also evaluated the association between DPD expression and the proliferation of tumor cells in surgical specimens, and prognosis of the patients with HNSCC. DPD overexpression decreases the cytotoxicity of 5-FU. CDHP, a strong DPD inhibitor, enhances the cytotoxic effect of 5-FU in HNSCC cells in vitro. DPD expression level does not effect cell proliferation and does not seem to have prognostic value in HNSCC. The present results strongly indicate that DPD expression plays an important role in the sensitivity of HNSCC to 5-FU chemotherapy, suggesting the possibility of personalized chemotherapy including the prediction of response and adverse effects.     

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase expression predicts survival outcome and chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the rate-limiting enzyme of 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) catabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of DPD expression and the correlation between DPD expression and efficacy of 5-Fu. Retrospective analysis of DPD expression was performed immunohistochemically in 103 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), in which staining intensity of DPD expression and degree of heterogeneity of DPD expression were categorized. Expression of DPD correlated with lymph node metastasis, mode of invasion and differentiation. Expression of DPD was an independent significant factor for survival outcome and was more predictive than conventional clinical factors. Furthermore, heterogeneous expression of DPD was more effective than homogeneous expression of DPD in neoplastic cells when evaluated in patients treated with chemotherapy including tegafur/uracil (UFT). Expression of DPD is an independent predictor for clinical outcome. Furthermore, heterogeneity of DPD expression may be a clue for predicting sensitivity to 5-Fu in patients with OSCC.     

Treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma with 5-fluorouracil adriamycin,and mitomycin C (FAM)

Summary Thirty-three evaluable patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma were treated with a combination of 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, and mitomycin C (FAM). Two complete and five partial remissions (21% response rate) were observed. The overall median survival of all 33 patients was 5.9 months. Responding patients had significantly better survival than the non-responders (P<0.02). Analysis of the results according to sex, pretreatment performance status, and the histologic differentiation of the tumor failed to demonstrate that any of these factors influenced therapeutic results. The low response rate to FAM found in this study might be related to the fact that in the majority of the patients (85%) the primary gastric tumor had not been resected. The side-effects of this regimen were moderate. Taking into account the low response rate and the moderate myelotoxicity observed, a more intensive use of these three drugs in combination is suggested.     

胃癌患者外周血DPD活性、5-FU血药浓度与毒性反应的相关性分析

背景与目的：以氟尿嘧啶（5-fluorouracil,5-FU）持续静脉滴注为基础的方案治疗胃癌患者。其毒性反应发生率及严重程度有很大的个体差异。二氢嘧啶脱氢酶（dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase,DPD）是5-FU在人体内代谢的关键性限速酶．与5-Fu化疗时的毒性反应有密切关系。本研究通过检测胃癌患者化疗前体内的DPD活性和化疗后5-FU稳态血药浓度,分析DPD活性、5-FU稳态血药浓度与毒性反应之间的相关性。方法：入组患者均接受相同方案化疗（紫杉醇75mg／m^2静脉滴注3h,醛氢叶酸200mg／m^2静脉滴注2h,5-FU 375mg／m^2静脉推注,5-FU 2．5g／m^2持续静脉滴注46h。每2周重复一次,每2次为一个疗程）,采用高效液相色谱法（HPLC法）检测化疗前DPD活性,并用HPLC法检测化疗后5-FU稳态血药浓度,观察患者化疗后的毒性反应。结果：DPD活性在36例胃癌患者血中呈正态分布,即1．56—6．01不等;并且DPD活性与患者性别、年龄、PS无关。5-FU稳态血药浓度在不同个体中差异较大,即179．2—1589．6μg／L不等．其浓度经对数转换后呈正态分布。DPD活性与5-FU稳态血药浓度呈负相关（r=-0．376,P=0．024）。DPD活性和腹泻、口腔粘膜炎、严重骨髓抑制发生率呈负相关,而5-FU稳态血药浓度与腹泻、Ⅲ／Ⅳ度骨髓抑制呈正相关。结论：化疗前DPD活性和化疗后5-FU稳态血药浓度在胃癌患者血中存在较大差异,对其检测能够预测毒性反应。