Clinical implications of thymidylate synthetase, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase and orotate phosphoribosyl transferase activity levels in colorectal carcinoma following radical resection and administration of adjuvant 5-FU chemotherapy
2008

Enzyme Activity Levels and Colorectal Cancer Survival

Sample size: 40 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Ishikawa Masashi, Miyauchi Takayuki, Kashiwagi Yutaka

Primary Institution: National Kochi Hospital

Hypothesis

The activity levels of thymidylate synthetase, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, and orotate phosphoribosyl transferase are prognostic factors for survival in colorectal carcinoma patients treated with radical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusion

TS and OPRT activity levels in tumor tissue may be important prognostic factors for survival in Dukes' B and C colorectal carcinoma with radical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Supporting Evidence

  • OPRT activity was significantly lower in tumors with lymph node metastasis than in tumors without.
  • Postoperative survival was significantly better in groups with low TS activity and/or high OPRT activity.
  • The greatest increase in survival was observed for patients with both low TS activity and high OPRT activity.

Takeaway

Doctors looked at certain enzymes in cancer tissue to see if they could help predict how long patients with colorectal cancer would live after treatment.

Methodology

The study examined enzyme activity levels in fresh frozen specimens from colorectal carcinoma patients who underwent curative surgery and received adjuvant chemotherapy.

Limitations

The study is retrospective and may not generalize to all colorectal cancer patients.

Participant Demographics

23 males and 17 females, mean age of 68 years.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2407-8-188

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