Thymidine phosphorylase expression in gastric cancer in association with proliferative activity and angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND

Thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) has been reported to stimulate angiogenesis in vivo. We investigated dThdPase expression in gastric cancer in association with angiogenesis and proliferative activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and forty-eight gastric cancer patients who had received radical gastrectomy were investigated.

RESULTS

Positive dThdPase staining was observed in 98 cases. The microvessel counts for positive and negative cases were 44.1 and 29.6, respectively, representing a significant correlation. The mean PCNA index of positive cases was significantly higher than that of negative cases. The patients with positive dThdPase staining in high intensity displayed decreased post-operative survival compared to those without.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that proliferative activity of gastric cancer is related to dThdPase expression and angiogenesis and that dThdPase expression is associated with angiogenesis. dThdPase expression could also be a prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients.