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The significance of thymidine phosphorylase/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor activity in renal cell carcinoma

  1. Yoichi Mizutani M.D.1,†,*,
  2. Hiromi Wada M.D.2,
  3. Osamu Yoshida M.D.3,
  4. Masakazu Fukushima Ph.D.4,
  5. Akihiro Kawauchi M.D.1,
  6. Masahiro Nakao M.D.1,
  7. Tsuneharu Miki M.D.1

Article first published online: 27 JUN 2003

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.11570

Issue

Cancer

Cancer

Volume 98, Issue 4, pages 730–736, 15 August 2003

Additional Information

How to Cite

Mizutani, Y., Wada, H., Yoshida, O., Fukushima, M., Kawauchi, A., Nakao, M. and Miki, T. (2003), The significance of thymidine phosphorylase/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor activity in renal cell carcinoma. Cancer, 98: 730–736. doi: 10.1002/cncr.11570

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Urology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan

  2. 2

    Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

  3. 3

    Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

  4. 4

    Cancer Research Laboratory, Taiho Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Saitama, Japan

  1. †

    Fax: (011) 81 75 251 5598

*Department of Urology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 AUG 2003
  2. Article first published online: 27 JUN 2003
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 12 MAY 2003
  4. Manuscript Revised: 1 MAY 2003
  5. Manuscript Received: 16 JAN 2003

Funded by

  • Japanese Urological Association
  • Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. Grant Numbers: 14657410, 15390496

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Keywords:

  • renal cell carcinoma;
  • thymidine phosphorylase;
  • platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor;
  • vascular endothelial growth factor;
  • 5-fluorouracil

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PDECGF) and has angiogenic activity. Little is known about the significance of TP/PDECGF activity in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The authors examined the enzymatic activity of TP in 66 RCC specimens and investigated the association between the level of TP activity and the stage/grade status of patients with RCC. Furthermore, the authors examined the correlation between TP/PDECGF activity and prognosis.

METHODS

TP activity levels in nonfixed, fresh-frozen RCC specimens and in specimens of normal kidney were determined using a thin-layer chromatography assay.

RESULTS

The activity of TP was approximately 3.5-fold greater in RCC specimens compared with normal kidney specimens. TP activity in patients with Stage III–IV RCC was 2.6-fold greater compared with TP activity in patients with Stage I–II RCC. In addition, the level of TP activity was correlated with a higher grade of RCC. Patients who had RCC with low TP activity had a longer postoperative disease-specific survival compared with patients who had RCC with high TP activity in the 5-year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study is the first to demonstrate a correlation between levels of TP activity and both disease progression and a higher grade of RCC. It also is the first to show that elevated TP activity in patients with RCC predicts a poor prognosis. The results suggest that high TP/PDECGF activity may be associated with the malignant potential of RCC and that TP/PDECGF may be a molecular therapeutic target in patients with RCC. Cancer 2003;98:730–6. © 2003 American Cancer Society.

DOI 10.1002/cncr.11570

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