The thymidine phosphorylase to dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase ratio in pancreatic cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the contents of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) in pancreatic cancer to provide a basis for the clinical use of capecitabine in pancreatic cancer patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The contents of TP and DPD in pancreatic cancer and adjacent normal tissues from 20 patients were determined by ELISA and the TP to DPD ratios in the cancer and adjacent normal tissue were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TP content was 5- to 283-fold higher in tumor tissue (mean 74-fold) than in the adjacent normal tissue (P < 0.01). DPD in the cancer tissue increased significantly. So did the TP to DPD ratio, when compared to that in normal pancreatic tissue (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increased TP to DPD ratio in pancreatic cancer suggests that capecitabine could be activated by the cancer, these capable of selectively kill the tumor cells.</p>