Résumé
Objective: to explore whether or not the determination of 2'-deoxycytidine plasma level can be used as a marker for tumor response to chemotherapy
Subjects: hundred Egyptian women, Fifteen normal volunteers controls and eighty five patients suffering from breast cancer treated repeatedly with Cytoxan , methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil regimen [CMF]
Setting : national Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt
Intervention: 2'-deoxycytidine [Dcyd] had been quantitated by HPLC in plasma of normal volunteers and breast cancer patients. The separation of Dcyd from other related compounds was carried out by HPLC system equipped with a Jasco-Tri-rotar V pump and UV spectrophotometer constructed with a Hitachi gel No.3012 and column [4.6mm x 15cm], Hitachi. Tokyo, Japan
Results: a positive correlation was observed between Dcyd level and the number of courses received. In patients receiving over 15 courses, Dcyd plasma levels were 6 fold higher than that found in the normal volunteers. Postmenopausal patients exhibited 50% higher Dcyd level than in premenopausal cases. Dcyd level in patients with lymph node positive was also 5 fold higher than the level observed in patients with free lymph nodes treated with high number of chemotherapeutic courses. With respect to the clinical response, non-responders showed 6 fold higher plasma Dcyd level than responders
Conclusion: it seems that determination of plasma level of Dcyd may be a good prognostic tumor marker and may be help in assessment early response to chemotherapeutic regimen