Predictive Significance of Thymidylate Synthase Expression in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM:

To date, many studies have suggested that thymidylate synthase (TS) could be used as a prognostic and predictive marker in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, results have been contradictory. The aim of this study was to evaluate TS mRNA levels in tumor tissue of NSCLC patients who underwent complete surgical resection and to analyze its prognostic and predictive potential.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The study group consisted of 64 patients who underwent curative lung resection. Paired lung tissue samples were taken directly from the tumor tissue and from adjacent, histologically cancer-free lung tissue. The quantitative estimation of TS expression was performed by reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The relationship between TS expression level and disease-free interval (DFI) and overall survival (OS) was analyzed.

RESULTS:

There was significantly higher TS expression in NSCLC tumor tissue comparing to normal lung tissue. In the group of patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy based on platinum derivatives in combination with paclitaxel or gemcitabine, we found shorter DFI (p=0.0473) and OS (p=0.0053) in those with high expression of TS.

CONCLUSION:

Our results demonstrated the relationship of high tumor tissue TS levels to adverse prognosis in patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. TS is a non-specific tumor marker with respect to NSCLC, therefore we think that its best use would be as a member of the panel of predictors of adjuvant treatment efficacy.

• Authors: Vlastimil Kulda, Kristyna Hrda, Zbynek Houdek, Jana Kolaja Dobra, Radana Vrzakova, Martin Svaton, Jarmil Safranek, Jan Dolezal, Vaclav Babuska, Milos Pesek, Ondrej Topolcan, Martin Pesta
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) Vol. 37 Issue 12 Pg. 6953-6958 (12 2017) ISSN: 1791-7530 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 29187479 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Thymidylate Synthase

Topics

• Aged
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
• Biomarkers, Tumor (genetics)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (drug therapy, genetics, surgery)
• Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Kaplan-Meier Estimate
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics, surgery)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• Thymidylate Synthase (genetics)
• Treatment Outcome