Predictive value of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase expression in tumor tissue, regarding the efficacy of postoperatively administered UFT (Tegafur + Uracil) in patients with p-stage I nonsmall-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity in tumor cells has been suggested to be one of the factors determining the effectiveness of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In the present study, we analyzed DPD expression in tumors and investigated retrospectively the relationship between the efficacy of UFT (Tegafur + Uracil) as adjuvant chemotherapy and DPD expression in nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

DPD expression of 166 resected p-stage I NSCLC was examined immunohistochemically. Patients who were administered UFT alone as adjuvant therapy comprised the UFT group (n = 54), and those who underwent only surgery comprised the control group (n = 112). DPD expression was categorized as either high or low, according to intensity of staining.

RESULTS

DPD expression was high in 98 patients (59.0%) and low in 68 patients (41.0%). Patients with low-DPD tumors who were administered UFT had a significantly better prognosis than those who did not receive adjuvant treatment (P = 0.021). No significant difference was found between the two groups of patients with high-DPD tumors (P = 0.598).

CONCLUSIONS

DPD expression may predict the efficacy of UFT after surgery for p-stage I NSCLC. A prospective study is needed to confirm the role of DPD expression as a predictor of UFT efficacy.