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Karamitros CS, Somody CM, Agnello G, Rowlinson S. Engineering of the Recombinant Expression and PEGylation Efficiency of the Therapeutic Enzyme Human Thymidine Phosphorylase. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:793985. [PMID: 34976980 PMCID: PMC8718881 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.793985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Human thymidine phosphorylase (HsTP) is an enzyme with important implications in the field of rare metabolic diseases. Defective mutations of HsTP lead to mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE), a disease with a high unmet medical need that is associated with severe neurological and gastrointestinal complications. Current efforts focus on the development of an enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) using the Escherichia coli ortholog (EcTP). However, bacterial enzymes are counter-indicated for human therapeutic applications because they are recognized as foreign by the human immune system, thereby eliciting adverse immune responses and raising significant safety and efficacy risks. Thus, it is critical to utilize the HsTP enzyme as starting scaffold for pre-clinical drug development, thus de-risking the safety concerns associated with the use of bacterial enzymes. However, HsTP expresses very poorly in E. coli, whereas its PEGylation, a crucial chemical modification for achieving long serum persistence of therapeutic enzymes, is highly inefficient and negatively affects its catalytic activity. Here we focused on the engineering of the recombinant expression profile of HsTP in E. coli cells, as well as on the optimization of its PEGylation efficiency aiming at the development of an alternative therapeutic approach for MNGIE. We show that phylogenetic and structural analysis of proteins can provide important insights for the rational design of N’-terminus-truncation constructs which exhibit significantly improved recombinant expression levels. In addition, we developed and implemented a criteria-driven rational surface engineering strategy for the substitution of arginine-to-lysine and lysine-to-arginine residues to achieve more efficient, homogeneous and reproducible PEGylation without negatively affecting the enzymatic catalytic activity upon PEGylation. Collectively, our proposed strategies provide an effective way to optimize enzyme PEGylation and E. coli recombinant expression and are likely applicable for other proteins and enzymes.
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Dikici S, Yar M, Bullock AJ, Shepherd J, Roman S, MacNeil S. Developing Wound Dressings Using 2-deoxy- D-Ribose to Induce Angiogenesis as a Backdoor Route for Stimulating the Production of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111437. [PMID: 34768868 PMCID: PMC8583821 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
2-deoxy-D-Ribose (2dDR) was first identified in 1930 in the structure of DNA and discovered as a degradation product of it later when the enzyme thymidine phosphorylase breaks down thymidine into thymine. In 2017, our research group explored the development of wound dressings based on the delivery of this sugar to induce angiogenesis in chronic wounds. In this review, we will survey the small volume of conflicting literature on this and related sugars, some of which are reported to be anti-angiogenic. We review the evidence of 2dDR having the ability to stimulate a range of pro-angiogenic activities in vitro and in a chick pro-angiogenic bioassay and to stimulate new blood vessel formation and wound healing in normal and diabetic rat models. The biological actions of 2dDR were found to be 80 to 100% as effective as VEGF in addition to upregulating the production of VEGF. We then demonstrated the uptake and delivery of the sugar from a range of experimental and commercial dressings. In conclusion, its pro-angiogenic properties combined with its improved stability on storage compared to VEGF, its low cost, and ease of incorporation into a range of established wound dressings make 2dDR an attractive alternative to VEGF for wound dressing development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serkan Dikici
- Department of Bioengineering, Izmir Institute of Technology, 35430 Izmir, Turkey
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (A.J.B.); (S.R.)
- Correspondence: (S.D.); (S.M.)
| | - Muhammad Yar
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials (IRCBM), COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Lahore 54000, Pakistan;
| | - Anthony J. Bullock
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (A.J.B.); (S.R.)
| | - Joanna Shepherd
- School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TA, UK;
| | - Sabiniano Roman
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (A.J.B.); (S.R.)
| | - Sheila MacNeil
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (A.J.B.); (S.R.)
- Correspondence: (S.D.); (S.M.)
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Parés M, Fornaguera C, Vila-Julià F, Oh S, Fan SHY, Tam YK, Comes N, Vidal F, Martí R, Borrós S, Barquinero J. Preclinical Assessment of a Gene-Editing Approach in a Mouse Model of Mitochondrial Neurogastrointestinal Encephalomyopathy. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:1210-1223. [PMID: 34498979 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is a rare disease caused by recessive mutations in the TYMP gene, which encodes the enzyme thymidine phosphorylase (TP). In this study, the efficient integration of a TYMP transgene into introns of the Tymp and Alb loci of hepatocytes in a murine model of MNGIE was achieved by the coordinated delivery and activity of CRISPR/Cas9 and a TYMP cDNA. CRISPR/Cas9 was delivered either as mRNA using lipid nanoparticle (LNP) or polymeric nanoparticle, respectively, or in an AAV2/8 viral vector; the latter was also used to package the TYMP cDNA. Insertion of the cDNA template downstream of the Tymp and Alb promoters ensured transgene expression. The best in vivo results were obtained using LNP carrying the CRISPR/Cas9 mRNAs. Treated mice showed a consistent long-term (1 year) reduction in plasma nucleoside (thymidine and deoxyuridine) levels that correlated with the presence of TYMP mRNA and functional enzyme in liver cells. In mice with an edited Alb locus, the transgene produced a hybrid Alb-hTP protein that was secreted, with supraphysiological levels of TP activity detected in the plasma. Equivalent results were obtained in mice edited at the Tymp locus. Finally, some degree of gene editing was found in animals treated only with AAV vectors containing the DNA templates, in the absence of nucleases, although there was no impact on plasma nucleoside levels. Overall, these results demonstrate the feasibility of liver-directed genome editing in the long-term correction of MNGIE, with several advantages over other methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Parés
- Gene and Cell Therapy, Institut de Recerca Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Fornaguera
- Grup d'Enginyeria de Materials (GEMAT), Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS), Ramon Llull University (URL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ferran Vila-Julià
- Research Group on Neuromuscular and Mitochondrial Diseases, Institut de Recerca Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), and Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sejin Oh
- Grup d'Enginyeria de Materials (GEMAT), Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS), Ramon Llull University (URL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Steven H Y Fan
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ying K Tam
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Francisco Vidal
- Blood and Tissue Bank, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ramon Martí
- Research Group on Neuromuscular and Mitochondrial Diseases, Institut de Recerca Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), and Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Borrós
- Grup d'Enginyeria de Materials (GEMAT), Institut Químic de Sarrià (IQS), Ramon Llull University (URL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Barquinero
- Gene and Cell Therapy, Institut de Recerca Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
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White CJ, Bode JW. PEGylation and Dimerization of Expressed Proteins under Near Equimolar Conditions with Potassium 2-Pyridyl Acyltrifluoroborates. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2018; 4:197-206. [PMID: 29532019 PMCID: PMC5833003 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.7b00432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The covalent conjugation of large, functionalized molecules remains a frontier in synthetic chemistry, as it requires rapid, chemoselective reactions. The potassium acyltrifluoroborate (KAT)-hydroxylamine amide-forming ligation shows promise for conjugations of biomolecules under aqueous, acidic conditions, but the variants reported to date are not suited to ligations at micromolar concentrations. We now report that 2-pyridyl KATs display significantly enhanced ligation kinetics over their aryl counterparts. Following their facile, one-step incorporation onto the termini of polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains, we show that 2-pyridyl KATs can be applied to the construction of protein-polymer conjugates in excellent (>95%) yield. Four distinct expressed, folded proteins equipped with a hydroxylamine could be PEGylated with 2-20 kDa 2-pyridyl mPEG KATs in high yield and with near-equimolar amounts of coupling partners. Furthermore, the use of a bis 2-pyridyl PEG KAT enables the covalent homodimerization of proteins with good conversion. The 2-pyridyl KAT ligation offers an effective alternative to conventional protein-polymer conjugation by operating under aqueous acidic conditions well suited for the handling of folded proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. White
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie,
Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jeffrey W. Bode
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie,
Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
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Li W, Gigante A, Perez-Perez MJ, Yue H, Hirano M, McIntyre TM, Silverstein RL. Thymidine phosphorylase participates in platelet signaling and promotes thrombosis. Circ Res 2014; 115:997-1006. [PMID: 25287063 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.115.304591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Platelets contain abundant thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP), which is highly expressed in diseases with high risk of thrombosis, such as atherosclerosis and type II diabetes mellitus. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that TYMP participates in platelet signaling and promotes thrombosis. METHODS AND RESULTS By using a ferric chloride (FeCl3)-induced carotid artery injury thrombosis model, we found time to blood flow cessation was significantly prolonged in Tymp(-/-) and Tymp(+/-) mice compared with wild-type mice. Bone marrow transplantation and platelet transfusion studies demonstrated that platelet TYMP was responsible for the antithrombotic phenomenon in the TYMP-deficient mice. Collagen-, collagen-related peptide-, adenosine diphosphate-, or thrombin-induced platelet aggregation were significantly attenuated in Tymp(+/-) and Tymp(-/-) platelets, and in wild type or human platelets pretreated with TYMP inhibitor KIN59. Tymp deficiency also significantly decreased agonist-induced P-selectin expression. TYMP contains an N-terminal SH3 domain-binding proline-rich motif and forms a complex with the tyrosine kinases Lyn, Fyn, and Yes in platelets. TYMP-associated Lyn was inactive in resting platelets, and TYMP trapped and diminished active Lyn after collagen stimulation. Tymp/Lyn double haploinsufficiency diminished the antithrombotic phenotype of Tymp(+/-) mice. TYMP deletion or inhibition of TYMP with KIN59 dramatically increased platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 tyrosine phosphorylation and diminished collagen-related peptide- or collagen-induced AKT phosphorylation. In vivo administration of KIN59 significantly inhibited FeCl3-induced carotid artery thrombosis without affecting hemostasis. CONCLUSIONS TYMP participates in multiple platelet signaling pathways and regulates platelet activation and thrombosis. Targeting TYMP might be a novel antiplatelet and antithrombosis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Instituto de Quimica Medica, Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (IQM-CSIC), Madrid, Spain (A.G.,M.-J.P.-P.); Department of Biological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (H.Y.); Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (M.H.); and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin and Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (R.L.S.)
| | - Alba Gigante
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Instituto de Quimica Medica, Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (IQM-CSIC), Madrid, Spain (A.G.,M.-J.P.-P.); Department of Biological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (H.Y.); Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (M.H.); and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin and Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (R.L.S.)
| | - Maria-Jesus Perez-Perez
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Instituto de Quimica Medica, Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (IQM-CSIC), Madrid, Spain (A.G.,M.-J.P.-P.); Department of Biological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (H.Y.); Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (M.H.); and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin and Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (R.L.S.)
| | - Hong Yue
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Instituto de Quimica Medica, Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (IQM-CSIC), Madrid, Spain (A.G.,M.-J.P.-P.); Department of Biological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (H.Y.); Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (M.H.); and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin and Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (R.L.S.)
| | - Michio Hirano
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Instituto de Quimica Medica, Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (IQM-CSIC), Madrid, Spain (A.G.,M.-J.P.-P.); Department of Biological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (H.Y.); Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (M.H.); and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin and Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (R.L.S.)
| | - Thomas M McIntyre
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Instituto de Quimica Medica, Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (IQM-CSIC), Madrid, Spain (A.G.,M.-J.P.-P.); Department of Biological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (H.Y.); Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (M.H.); and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin and Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (R.L.S.)
| | - Roy L Silverstein
- From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, OH (W.L., T.M.M.); Instituto de Quimica Medica, Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (IQM-CSIC), Madrid, Spain (A.G.,M.-J.P.-P.); Department of Biological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (H.Y.); Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (M.H.); and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin and Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (R.L.S.)
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Lindskog EB, Derwinger K, Gustavsson B, Falk P, Wettergren Y. Thymidine phosphorylase expression is associated with time to progression in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. BMC Clin Pathol 2014; 14:25. [PMID: 24936150 PMCID: PMC4058433 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6890-14-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is the cornerstone of chemotherapeutic treatment for patients with colorectal cancer. The enzyme thymidine phosphorylase (TP) catalyzes the conversion of 5-FU to its active metabolite, 5-fluoro-2’-deoxyuridine. TP is expressed in tumour epithelial cells and stromal cells, particularly in tumour-associated macrophages. These macrophages may affect sensitivity to chemotherapy. Previously, we identified TP as a predictive factor in microdissected tumour samples of patients with advanced colorectal cancer. In the present study, we analysed TP expression in tissues and associated stromal cells from patients with advanced colorectal cancer and associated TP levels to tumour response and time-to-event variables during first-line chemotherapy treatment. We also investigated the association between serum TP levels at the time of surgery and gene expression in primary tumour tissues. Methods This study included 125 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with first-line 5-FU-based chemotherapy. To quantify TP gene expression levels in tumour tissues, real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed using the 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR system (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). TP protein concentration in matched serum samples was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system (USCN Life Science Inc.). Results The tumour response rate was 31%, and 30% of patients exhibited stable disease. No associations between TP expression level and age or gender were observed. Levels of TP mRNA in mucosa and tumours were positively correlated (r = 0.41, p < 0.01). No correlation between TP expression and tumour response rate was observed. Time to progression was significantly longer in patients with high TP expression (p < 0.01). Serum TP protein levels were not associated with tumour response or time-to-event variables and did not correlate with gene expression in tumour tissues. Conclusions High TP gene expression in non-microdissected tumour tissues of patients with advanced colorectal cancer correlates with longer time to progression, which could be related to treatment. These results are in contrast to previous studies where microdissected tumour cells were analysed and may be due to the presence of adjacent stromal cells. Serum TP protein expression does not correlate to TP gene expression in tissues of patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elinor Bexe Lindskog
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 416 85, Sweden
| | - Kristoffer Derwinger
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 416 85, Sweden
| | - Bengt Gustavsson
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 416 85, Sweden
| | - Peter Falk
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 416 85, Sweden
| | - Yvonne Wettergren
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 416 85, Sweden
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Ha ES, Choi S, In KH, Lee SH, Lee EJ, Lee SY, Kim JH, Shin C, Shim JJ, Kang KH, Phark S, Sul D. Identification of proteins expressed differently among surgically resected stage I lung adenocarcinomas. Clin Biochem 2012. [PMID: 23200884 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2012.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Among patients with surgically resected stage I lung adenocarcinoma, some succumb to early recurrence, while others survive for more than 5 years. Few markers to predict prognoses in these patients have been accepted. Recent advances in proteomic methodologies offer a unique chance to identify new candidate biomarkers. The aim of this study is to find differences in protein expression in resected lung cancer tissue of stage I adenocarcinoma from patients with no recurrence for more than 5 years and from those with early recurrence. METHODS Lung cancer tissues were obtained from 15 patients with pathologically confirmed stage I adenocarcinoma. The patients were divided into two groups, those with recurrence within 36 months (early recurrence group, n=9) and those that were disease-free for over 5 years (disease free group, n=6). Tissue proteins were separated by a two-dimensional electrophoresis long gel system (30 × 40 cm) with set ranges (3-10 NL) and examined by nano-LC-ESI-MS/MS. Western blot assays were performed to validate these proteins. RESULTS Twelve protein spots were up-regulated and 8 were down-regulated in the disease-free group as compared with the recurrence group. Of the 12 up-regulated proteins, haptoglubin, tau-tubulin kinase-2 (TTBK2), thymidine phosphorylase, annexin-1, PIN1, CAPG, and SEC23 were validated by Western blot. Among the 8 down-regulated proteins, serpinB6 and trangelin-2 were validated. CONCLUSIONS A total of 9 differentially expressed proteins were successfully extracted, identified, and confirmed from stage I lung adenocarcinoma tissues. The increased or decreased expression of these proteins according to prognosis may be the basis for further studies of proteomics in developing prognostic biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Sil Ha
- Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
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Meynial D, Malet-Martino MC, Lopez A, Martino R. Phosphorolysis of 5′-deoxy-5-fluorouridine in human plasma, serum and blood platelets. J Pharm Pharmacol 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-7158.1986.tb04605.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
During the course of the study of 5′-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5′dFUrd) plasma protein binding using 19F NMR spectroscopy, phosphorolytic cleavage of 5′dFUrd into 5-fluorouracil (5FU) was observed. This transformation was due to the enzymatic content of residual blood cells present in plasma, since the percentage conversion of 5′dFUrd into 5FU was lower as the number of residual blood cells fell, and an ‘acellular’ plasma or a serum effected a negligible phosphorolyis of 5′dFUrd. As platelets were the contaminants of the plasma samples studied, and a concentrate of human platelets demonstrated a high phosphorolytic activity towards 5′dFUrd, it was concluded that these blood cells were responsible for the 5′dFUrd cleavage. Thymidine phosphorylase, being the only pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase in human platelets, is suggested by the present results to catalyse 5′dFUrd phosphorolysis and is therefore not as specific for 2′-deoxyribonucleosides as has been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Meynial
- Laboratoire des IMRCP, UA-CNRS 04-470, Université Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cédex, France
| | - M C Malet-Martino
- Laboratoire des IMRCP, UA-CNRS 04-470, Université Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cédex, France
| | - A Lopez
- Laboratoire des IMRCP, UA-CNRS 04-470, Université Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cédex, France
| | - R Martino
- Laboratoire des IMRCP, UA-CNRS 04-470, Université Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cédex, France
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Bronckaers A, Gago F, Balzarini J, Liekens S. The dual role of thymidine phosphorylase in cancer development and chemotherapy. Med Res Rev 2009; 29:903-53. [PMID: 19434693 PMCID: PMC7168469 DOI: 10.1002/med.20159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP), also known as "platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor" (PD-ECGF), is an enzyme, which is upregulated in a wide variety of solid tumors including breast and colorectal cancers. TP promotes tumor growth and metastasis by preventing apoptosis and inducing angiogenesis. Elevated levels of TP are associated with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis. Therefore, TP inhibitors are synthesized in an attempt to prevent tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. TP is also indispensable for the activation of the extensively used 5-fluorouracil prodrug capecitabine, which is clinically used for the treatment of colon and breast cancer. Clinical trials that combine capecitabine with TP-inducing therapies (such as taxanes or radiotherapy) suggest that increasing TP expression is an adequate strategy to enhance the antitumoral efficacy of capecitabine. Thus, TP plays a dual role in cancer development and therapy: on the one hand, TP inhibitors can abrogate the tumorigenic and metastatic properties of TP; on the other, TP activity is necessary for the activation of several chemotherapeutic drugs. This duality illustrates the complexity of the role of TP in tumor progression and in the clinical response to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Federico Gago
- Departamento de Farmacología, Universidad de Alcalá, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Jan Balzarini
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, K.U.Leuven, B‐3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sandra Liekens
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, K.U.Leuven, B‐3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Yu EJ, Lee Y, Rha SY, Kim TS, Chung HC, Oh BK, Yang WI, Noh SH, Jeung HC. Angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase increases cancer cell invasion activity in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Mol Cancer Res 2008; 6:1554-66. [PMID: 18922971 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-08-0166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the biological role of thymidine phosphorylase (TP), an angiogenic factor, in gastric cancer cell migration and invasion and explored a therapeutic approach for high TP-expressing tumors using TP enzymatic inhibitor (TPI) and rapamycin. We established TP cDNA overexpressing gastric cancer cell lines (MKN-45/TP and YCC-3/TP) and did invasion and adhesion assays with Matrigel-coated transwell membranes. The related signal pathway using recombinant human TP (rhTP), deoxy-d-ribose (D-dRib), and signal pathway inhibitors (wortmannin, LY294002, and rapamycin) was investigated. First, AGS and MKN-1 gastric cancer cell lines showed dose-dependent up-regulation of invasiveness through Matrigel following treatment with rhTP or D-dRib. TP-overexpressing cancer cell lines displayed increased migration and invasion activity, which doubled with rhTP and D-dRib treatment. This activity depended on the enzymatic activity of TP, and TP stimulated the adhesion of cancer cells onto Matrigel and induced actin filament remodeling. Finally, we showed that this activity is related to increased phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity in TP-overexpressing cells and that combination treatment with rapamycin and TP enzymatic inhibitor produces an additive effect to abrogate TP-induced invasion. Taken together, TP increases the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells, especially in TP-expressing cells. Therapies targeting TP might diminish the propensity for invasion and metastasis in gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Jeong Yu
- Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Gunningham SP, Currie MJ, Morrin HR, Tan EY, Turley H, Dachs GU, Watson AI, Frampton C, Robinson BA, Fox SB. The angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase up-regulates the cell adhesion molecule P-selectin in human vascular endothelial cells and is associated with P-selectin expression in breast cancers. J Pathol 2007; 212:335-44. [PMID: 17487938 DOI: 10.1002/path.2174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is an angiogenic enzyme, catalysing the reversible phosphorylation of thymidine to thymine and 2-deoxyribose. TP is up-regulated in neoplasia, being associated with advanced tumour stage, microvessel density and prognosis in several tumour types. Although TP is a non-mitogenic migratory factor for endothelium, the mechanism by which TP mediates these effects is still unclear. We compared the gene expression profile of endothelial cells grown in vitro in the presence or absence of TP by cDNA microarray analysis. To determine the time-course of TP angiogenic induction, endothelial cells were stimulated with TP (10 ng/ml) for 5 and 18 h. Gene expression levels of Tie2, angiopoietin (Ang)1 and Ang2, measured by RNase protection assay (RPA), showed maximal alteration at 18 h. cDNA from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) grown for 18 h in the presence or absence of TP (10 ng/ml) was hybridized to a human cDNA cytokine array representing 375 angiogenic genes. Significantly altered expression occurred in 89 human angiogenic genes (72 genes were up-regulated and 17 down-regulated). Changes in five genes relevant to vascular remodelling biology (Tie2, nNos, P-selectin, ephrin-B1 and TP) were validated in triplicate experiments by real-time RT-PCR. But only P-selectin gene expression remained significant. Correlation between P-selectin and TP was assessed by immunohistochemistry on 161 human breast cancers, using human tissue microarray. Tumour cell TP correlated with tumour cell P-selectin but not with endothelial cell P-selectin. These data show that TP stimulates changes in mRNA expression maximally after 18 h culture in vitro. It confirms a role for TP in vascular remodelling involving several classes of genes, including the cell adhesion molecule, P-selectin. Although confirmation of the role of TP-mediated cell adhesion molecule (CAM) induction is required; however, this pathway may provide an attractive therapeutic target, since it is likely to affect several important tumour processes, including angiogenesis and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S P Gunningham
- Angiogenesis Research Group, Department of Pathology, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand
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12
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Kandemir EG, Mayadagli A, Karagoz B, Bilgi O, Turken O, Yaylaci M. Prognostic significance of thrombocytosis in node-negative colon cancer. J Int Med Res 2005; 33:228-35. [PMID: 15790135 DOI: 10.1177/147323000503300211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Several clinical studies have shown that thrombocytosis is a poor prognostic factor in some types of cancer, but data about the impact of thrombocytosis on prognosis in patients with colon cancer are very limited. We investigated the prevalence and prognostic effect of pre-operative thrombocytosis, defined as a platelet count > 400 x 10(9)/l, retrospectively in patients with node-negative colon cancer. Out of 198 patients, 24 (12.1%) had thrombocytosis, and its presence correlated with tumour depth and lymphatic invasion. Univariate analysis revealed that disease-free survival and overall survival were shorter in patients with pre-operative thrombocytosis than those without thrombocytosis. On multivariate analysis, thrombocytosis alone retained significance as a poor prognostic factor for both disease-free survival and overall survival. In conclusion, this study shows an association between thrombocytosis and poor survival in patients with node-negative colon cancer. The preoperative platelet count may help to identify patients with an unfavourable prognosis in this subgroup.
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Affiliation(s)
- E G Kandemir
- Medical Oncology Department, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Kadikoy, Istanbul, Turkey.
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13
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Ohrvik A, Lindh M, Einarsson R, Grassi J, Eriksson S. Sensitive nonradiometric method for determining thymidine kinase 1 activity. Clin Chem 2004; 50:1597-606. [PMID: 15247154 DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2003.030379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is a cytoplasmic enzyme, produced only in the S-phase of proliferating cells, that has potential as a tumor marker. Specific determination of TK1 in serum is difficult, in part because of differences in the physical properties of serum TK1 compared with cytoplasmic TK1. METHODS The first step in the new assay was phosphorylation of 3'-azido-2',3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) to AZT 5'-monophosphate (AZTMP) by TK1 present in patient material. The AZTMP formed was measured in a competitive immunoassay with specific anti-AZTMP antibodies and AZTMP-labeled peroxidase. Results were compared with those of a TK radioenzyme assay (REA) for 78 samples from patients suffering from hematologic diseases. RESULTS The detection limit was 78 microIU/L, and within-run CVs <20% were seen for samples with TK1 down to 130 microIU/L. Cross-determination of the mitochondrial isoenzyme TK2 activity was <0.1%. Between-assay imprecision (CV) was 3.5-7.4%, and the within-assay imprecision was 4.1-9.1%. In studies of recovery and linearity on dilution, measured values ranged from 84% to 115% of expected at concentrations of 0.26-10.4 mIU/L. Results of the new assay (mIU/L) = 0.109 x TK REA (U/L) + 0.092. Heterophilic antibodies did not interfere in the assay. The upper 95th percentile, in 100 healthy individuals, was 0.94 mIU/L, and the median value was 0.43 mIU/L. CONCLUSION The TK1 enzyme-labeled immunoassay uses a stable substrate, is precise, appears to be accurate, and is resistant to interferences. It may provide a practical tool in the management of hematologic malignancies.
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14
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Norman RA, Barry ST, Bate M, Breed J, Colls JG, Ernill RJ, Luke RWA, Minshull CA, McAlister MSB, McCall EJ, McMiken HHJ, Paterson DS, Timms D, Tucker JA, Pauptit RA. Crystal Structure of Human Thymidine Phosphorylase in Complex with a Small Molecule Inhibitor. Structure 2004; 12:75-84. [PMID: 14725767 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2003.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Human thymidine phosphorylase (HTP), also known as platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), is overexpressed in certain solid tumors where it is linked to poor prognosis. HTP expression is utilized for certain chemotherapeutic strategies and is also thought to play a role in tumor angiogenesis. We determined the structure of HTP bound to the small molecule inhibitor 5-chloro-6-[1-(2-iminopyrrolidinyl) methyl] uracil hydrochloride (TPI). The inhibitor appears to mimic the substrate transition state, which may help explain the potency of this inhibitor and the catalytic mechanism of pyrimidine nucleotide phosphorylases (PYNPs). Further, we have confirmed the validity of the HTP structure as a template for structure-based drug design by predicting binding affinities for TPI and other known HTP inhibitors using in silico docking techniques. This work provides the first structural insight into the binding mode of any inhibitor to this important drug target and forms the basis for designing novel inhibitors for use in anticancer therapy.
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15
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Brostjan C, Bayer A, Zommer A, Gornikiewicz A, Roka S, Benkö T, Yaghubian R, Jakesz R, Steger G, Gnant M, Friedl J, Stift A. Monitoring of circulating angiogenic factors in dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapy. Cancer 2003; 98:2291-301. [PMID: 14601101 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.11776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A promising treatment approach for patients with malignant disease that recently has found its way into clinical trials is based on vaccination with autologous dendritic cells loaded with tumor antigens. However, adequate assays for monitoring clinical and immunologic responses still are under debate. In recent years, the determination of angiogenic markers has shown considerable potential in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with malignant disease, because tumor growth and spread are promoted by angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels. METHODS The authors established a method for measuring the plasma levels of three modulators of angiogenesis: vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, and thrombospondin-1. The angiogenic blood profile of a healthy control group was characterized and compared with a group of patients with malignant disease. Ultimately, levels of circulating angiogenic factors were monitored in the course of dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapy. RESULTS Baseline levels of angiogenic mediators varied substantially among healthy individuals but showed consistent values for each individual. Blood levels of circulating angiogenic factors were elevated significantly in patients with advanced disease and were highly sensitive to dendritic cell-based immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, the current report was the first to analyze circulating levels of angiogenic factors during dendritic cell-based immunotherapy. The authors observed a noteworthy change in the angiogenic blood profile with treatment, and this change was correlated with the induction of an immunologic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Brostjan
- Department of General Surgery, General Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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16
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Sato J, Sata M, Nakamura H, Inoue S, Wada T, Takabatake N, Otake K, Tomoike H, Kubota I. Role of thymidine phosphorylase on invasiveness and metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma. Int J Cancer 2003; 106:863-70. [PMID: 12918063 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.11315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is expressed at higher levels in a variety of human cancers than in adjacent normal tissue. It is reported that the higher expression is associated with an increase of intratumoral microvessel density and a poor prognosis. We investigated the role of TP in human non small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). The concentrations of TP in the tumors and the adjacent normal tissue from surgically resected specimens of 54 cases of NSCLCs were measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Tumor specimens were also examined immunohistochemically. TP concentrations in the tumors were 169 +/- 18 units/mg protein (mean +/- SD), whereas those in normal tissue were 43 +/- 4 units/mg protein (mean +/- SD), consistent with TP staining patterns. There was no correlation between TP expression and microvessel density. Among clinicopathologic factors examined, the concentrations of TP but not TP immunoreactivity correlated with tumor differentiation in lung adenocarcinoma. Although a specific TP inhibitor (TPI) and overexpression of TP did not affect the growth of A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells, Matrigel invasion assay showed that A549 transfected with TP had higher invasive potential than mock transfectant, and such enhanced invasive activity was markedly diminished by treatment with TPI. Furthermore, administration of TPI suppressed lung metastasis of TP-overexpressing A549 cells in nude mice. These results demonstrate that TP may play an important role in tumor differentiation, invasiveness and metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma, and suggest that TP could be a novel target for treatment of TP-overexpressing lung adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Sato
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
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17
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Sengupta S, Sellers LA, Matheson HB, Fan TPD. Thymidine phosphorylase induces angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro: an evaluation of possible mechanisms. Br J Pharmacol 2003; 139:219-31. [PMID: 12770927 PMCID: PMC1573835 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
1 Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is elevated in the plasma of cancer patients, and has been implicated in pathophysiological angiogenesis. However, the downstream signals underlying this implication remain obscure. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of TP on the neovascularisation response in vitro and in vivo. 2 Both TP and its catalytic product, 2-deoxy-D-ribose-1-phosphate, and downstream 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2-DDR) promoted endothelial tubulogenesis in vitro, and the regeneration of a wounded monolayer of endothelial cells without exerting any mitogenic effect. In vivo, both TP and 2-DDR promoted the development of functional vasculature into an avascular sponge. A TP inhibitor, 6-amino-5-chlorouracil, was able to partially reverse the effects of TP, but had no effect on the 2-DDR-induced angiogenesis. 3 Enhanced monolayer regeneration was observed with TP-cDNA-transfected bladder carcinoma cells. The transfection of TP-cDNA, however, did not confer any proliferative advantage. The regeneration of TP overexpressing cells was associated with a time-dependent expression of the enzyme haeme-oxygenase (HO-1). 4 The present study demonstrates that both TP and its ribose-sugar metabolites induce angiogenesis by mediating a cohesive interplay between carcinoma and endothelial cells. The induction of HO-1 in TP-transfected cells suggests that it could be a possible downstream signal for the angiogenic effects of TP. Furthermore, reducing sugars have been shown to induce oxidative stress, and ribose could be a possible cause for the upregulation of HO-1, which has been implicated in the release of angiogenic factors. Therefore, we postulate that 2-DDR could be mediating the angiogenic effects of TP possibly through an oxidative stress mechanism and additionally getting integrated in the endothelial metabolic machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiladitya Sengupta
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD
| | - Lynda A Sellers
- Glaxo Institute of Applied Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD
| | - Hugh B Matheson
- TCS CellWorks Ltd, Park Leys, Botolph Claydon, Buckingham MK18 2LR
| | - Tai-Ping D Fan
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD
- Author for correspondence:
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Shijubo N, Kojima H, Nagata M, Ohchi T, Suzuki A, Abe S, Sato N. Tumor angiogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer. Microsc Res Tech 2003; 60:186-98. [PMID: 12539173 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.10257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the commonest causes of cancer death in developed countries. Recent evidence suggests that angoigenesis is related to poor prognosis in many solid tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Angiogenesis is regulated by a complex interaction among growth factors and cytokines and influenced by proteolytic enzymes such as plasminogen activators and matrix metalloproteases, expression of adhesion molecules, and distribution of extracellular matrices. Fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, and endothelial cells themselves also affect angiogenesis. This review concentrates on angiogenic growth factors including vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietins, platelet derived endothelial growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor, proteases, adhesion molecules including vascular endothelial cadherin and integrins, osteopontin, and mast cell products in tumor angiogenesis of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriharu Shijubo
- Third Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8543, Japan.
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19
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Hata K, Yoshida M, Maruyama R, Fujiwaki R, Miyazaki K. Prognostic significance of ultrasound derived intratumoral peak systolic velocity in epithelial ovarian cancer. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2002; 20:186-191. [PMID: 12153671 DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2002.00748.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prognostic significance of ultrasound derived intratumoral peak systolic velocity in epithelial ovarian cancer. DESIGN Color Doppler imaging and pulsed Doppler spectral analysis were used in the investigation of 49 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (19 serous, 15 mucinous, eight endometrioid, four clear cell and three Brenner cell) immediately before laparotomy. Twenty-two were stage I, six were stage II, 17 were stage III and four were stage IV. Sections of malignant tumors were analyzed for the cellular expression of thymidine phosphorylase and the intratumoral density of microvessels by immunohistochemistry using antibodies to thymidine phosphorylase and factor VIII-related antigen, respectively. Moreover, the apoptotic index was evaluated by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling method. Intratumoral peak systolic velocity was tested for correlation with patients' age at diagnosis, stage of disease, presence of a residual tumor, histological subtype and grade, thymidine phosphorylase expression, apoptotic index, microvessel count and patient survival. RESULTS Histological grade (P = 0.025), thymidine phosphorylase expression (P = 0.044), apoptotic index (P = 0.039) and microvessel count (P = 0.014) were all significantly associated with peak systolic velocity. Stage of disease (P = 0.002), presence of residual disease (P = 0.0002) and peak systolic velocity (P = 0.041) were found by univariate Cox regression analysis to be significantly associated with a poor prognosis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that stage of disease (P = 0.006) and peak systolic velocity (P = 0.008) are independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS Intratumoral peak systolic velocity could be a preoperatively pertinent prognostic predictor of survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Hata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
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Haraguchi M, Tsujimoto H, Fukushima M, Higuchi I, Kuribayashi H, Utsumi H, Nakayama A, Hashizume Y, Hirato J, Yoshida H, Hara H, Hamano S, Kawaguchi H, Furukawa T, Miyazono K, Ishikawa F, Toyoshima H, Kaname T, Komatsu M, Chen ZS, Gotanda T, Tachiwada T, Sumizawa T, Miyadera K, Osame M, Yoshida H, Noda T, Yamada Y, Akiyama SI. Targeted deletion of both thymidine phosphorylase and uridine phosphorylase and consequent disorders in mice. Mol Cell Biol 2002; 22:5212-21. [PMID: 12077348 PMCID: PMC139774 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.22.14.5212-5221.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) regulates intracellular and plasma thymidine levels. TP deficiency is hypothesized to (i) increase levels of thymidine in plasma, (ii) lead to mitochondrial DNA alterations, and (iii) cause mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE). In order to elucidate the physiological roles of TP, we generated mice deficient in the TP gene. Although TP activity in the liver was inhibited in these mice, it was fully maintained in the small intestine. Murine uridine phosphorylase (UP), unlike human UP, cleaves thymidine, as well as uridine. We therefore generated TP-UP double-knockout (TP(-/-) UP(-/-)) mice. TP activities were inhibited in TP(-/-) UP(-/-) mice, and the level of thymidine in the plasma of TP(-/-) UP(-/-) mice was higher than for TP(-/-) mice. Unexpectedly, we could not observe alterations of mitochondrial DNA or pathological changes in the muscles of the TP(-/-) UP(-/-) mice, even when these mice were fed thymidine for 7 months. However, we did find hyperintense lesions on magnetic resonance T(2) maps in the brain and axonal edema by electron microscopic study of the brain in TP(-/-) UP(-/-) mice. These findings suggested that the inhibition of TP activity caused the elevation of pyrimidine levels in plasma and consequent axonal swelling in the brains of mice. Since lesions in the brain do not appear to be due to mitochondrial alterations and pathological changes in the muscle were not found, this model will provide further insights into the causes of MNGIE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misako Haraguchi
- Department of Cancer Chemotherapy, Institute for Cancer Research, Third Department of Internal Medicin, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakura-gaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan
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Kojima H, Shijubo N, Abe S. Thymidine phosphorylase and vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with Stage I lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer 2002; 94:1083-93. [PMID: 11920479 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.10352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) has chemotactic activity in endothelial cells in vitro and angiogenic activity in vivo. However, the clinical significance of TP and cooperative roles of TP with other angiogenic factors have remained unclear in nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). METHODS The authors stained for TP, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in 132 tumors from patients with Stage I NSCLC. They compared TP, VEGF, and bFGF expression levels with microvessel counts (MVCs), macrophage counts, mast cell counts, and clinical outcomes of patients with Stage I NSCLC. RESULTS In adenocarcinoma samples, only stromal cell-TP expression and tumor cell-VEGF expression were associated with MVCs and mast cell counts but not with macrophage counts. In squamous cell carcinoma samples, there were no significant associations of the expression of any examined angiogenic factors with MVCs, mast cell counts, or macrophage counts. More importantly, only among patients with Stage I adenocarcinoma of the lung did patients in the stromal cell-TP positive tumor group and in the tumor cell-VEGF positive tumor group have a significantly worse prognosis compared with patients in the stromal cell-TP negative tumor group and in the tumor cell VEGF negative group, respectively. In addition, among patients with Stage I adenocarcinoma, patients in the stromal cell-TP positive and tumor cell-VEGF positive tumor group had a significantly worse prognosis among the four groups. CONCLUSIONS TP induction in tumoral stroma, but not in tumor cells, and tumor cell-VEGF induction may promote angiogenesis cooperatively in adenocarcinoma of the lung. Stromal cell-TP expression and tumor cell-VEGF expression may be important prognostic factors in adenocarcinoma of the lung, and stromal cell-TP expression may be a marker of active remodeling stroma in adenocarcinoma of the lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kojima
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor isoforms and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor in bladder cancer. Urol Oncol 2000; 6:10-15. [PMID: 11113367 DOI: 10.1016/s1078-1439(00)00095-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) isoforms and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PDECGF) mRNA in bladder cancer. We also attempted to determine if correlation exists between their expression level and conventional clinical variables in patients with bladder cancer. Tissues obtained from 60 patients with bladder carcinoma were used for analysis. Expression levels of VEGF isoforms and PDECGF were examined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Correlations between the expression levels of each VEGF isoform and PDECGF and histopathologic findings were evaluated. Four VEGF isoforms corresponding to VEGF121, 165, 189, and 206 were detected in bladder cancer tissue by RT-PCR. Gene expression of all VEGF isoforms as a ratio of the target to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) showed no correlation with pathologic stage of bladder cancer. However, with regard to relative expression levels of VEGF isoform, which is the ratio to the sum of total VEGF isoforms, the levels of VEGF206 and VEGF189 in tumor samples of grade pT2 or higher were significantly lower than those in tumors of grade pT1 or lower (P<.05). In contrast, the levels of VEGF121 in >/=pT2 tumors tended to be higher than those in </=pT1 tumors (P=.056). The expression level of PDECGF as a ratio to GAPDH in pT2</= tumors was significantly higher than that in either pTa or pT1 tumors (P<.05). Moreover, a higher expression level of PDECGF was observed in G3 tumors than in G1 tumors (P<.05). The results indicated that gene expression of VEGF isoforms do not play a significant role in tumor progression or invasion; however, the distribution of VEGF isoforms may play a role in tumor progression of bladder cancer. A high expression level of PDECGF correlated significantly with the tumor progression of bladder cancer.
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Zhao B, Kimura W, Futakawa N, Abe H, Kitayama J, Nagawa H, Makuuchi M. Significance of thymidine phosphorylase/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor in carcinoma of the papilla of Vater. Jpn J Cancer Res 2000; 91:331-6. [PMID: 10760693 PMCID: PMC5926371 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2000.tb00949.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) in carcinoma of the papilla of Vater was studied to clarify its significance in tumor progression and in determining prognosis. Fifty-nine cases of surgically resected carcinoma of the papilla of Vater were studied. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the expression of TP, microvessel count and p53 overexpression. TP expression was demonstrated in tumor cells in 62.7% (37/59) of the cases. A higher frequency of regional lymph node metastasis was found in TP-positive tumors than in TP-negative tumors (P = 0.006). TP-positive tumors were more advanced than TP-negative tumors with regard to clinical stage (P = 0.035). TP-positive tumors had significantly higher microvessel density (27.6 +/- 10.1) than TP-negative tumors (20.4 +/- 10.0, P = 0.01). Moreover, TP expression was significantly correlated with a poor prognosis (P = 0. 02). These suggest that in carcinoma of the papilla of Vater, TP production by tumor cells is correlated with tumor progression through its regulatory effect on neovascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Zhao
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
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Arima JI, Imazono Y, Takebayashi Y, Nishiyama K, Shirahama T, Akiba S, Furukawa T, Akiyama SI, Ohi Y. Expression of thymidine phosphorylase as an indicator of poor prognosis for patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Cancer 2000. [DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(20000301)88:5<1131::aid-cncr25>3.0.co;2-p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Tanaka T, Yoshiki T, Arai Y, Higuchi K, Kageyama S, Ogawa Y, Isono T, Okada Y. Expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase in human bladder cancer. Jpn J Cancer Res 1999; 90:1344-50. [PMID: 10665652 PMCID: PMC5926031 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1999.tb00718.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase (PD-ECGF/TP) in primary bladder cancer, its association with clinicopathologic findings, and their prognostic value. mRNA was extracted from 20 bladder cancer specimens and 6 normal bladder mucosal tissues. Relative amounts of PD-ECGF/TP mRNA were evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and compared with the level of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA (used as an internal standard). PD-ECGF/TP expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in 85 patients who underwent cystectomy for bladder cancer. Serum PD-ECGF/TP levels were measured in 23 patients using a sandwich-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. By RT-PCR analysis, expression of PD-ECGF/TP was found to be 7-fold higher in invasive tumors than in superficial tumors (P<0.01) and 9-fold higher than in normal bladder (P<0.01). Out of 85 transitional cell carcinoma tissue samples, 69 (81%) were evaluated as PD-ECGF/TP-positive by immunohistochemical staining. PD-ECGF/TP expression correlated significantly with tumor grade (P = 0.001), depth of invasion (P = 0.012), and lymphatic invasion (P = 0.01). No correlation was found between expression of PD-ECGF/TP and the number of tumors, tumor configuration, lymph node involvement, venous invasion, c-erbB-2 expression, or overall survival. We could not detect a significant serum level of PD-ECGF/TP in any patient. The results suggest that PD-ECGF/TP might give valuable information for bladder cancer management, though it may not be a good new tumor marker for bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Tanaka
- Department of Urology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Tsukinowa, Seta, Otsu
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Rick SW, Abashkin YG, Hilderbrandt RL, Burt SK. Computational studies of the domain movement and the catalytic mechanism of thymidine phosphorylase. Proteins 1999; 37:242-52. [PMID: 10584069 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0134(19991101)37:2<242::aid-prot9>3.0.co;2-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is a dual substrate enzyme with two domains. Each domain binds a substrate. In the crystal structure of Escherichia coli TP, the two domains are arranged so that the two substrate binding sites are too far away for the two substrates to directly react. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal a different structure of the enzyme in which the two domains have moved to place the two substrates in close contact. This structure has a root-mean-square deviation from the crystal structure of 4.1 A. Quantum mechanical calculations using this structure find that the reaction can proceed by a direct nucleophilic attack with a low barrier. This mechanism is not feasible in the crystal structure environment and is consistent with the mechanism observed for other N-glycosidic enzymes. Important catalytic roles are found for the three highly conserved residues His 85, Arg 171, and Lys 190.
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Affiliation(s)
- S W Rick
- Advanced Biomedical Computing Center, SAIC-Frederick, NCI-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Maryland 21702, USA
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Ackland SP, Peters GJ. Thymidine phosphorylase: its role in sensitivity and resistance to anticancer drugs. Drug Resist Updat 1999; 2:205-214. [PMID: 11504493 DOI: 10.1054/drup.1999.0089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is an angiogenic enzyme present in normal tissues. Increased levels are found in many tumors, in stromal cells, tumor cells or both. High tumor TP levels may confer a poor prognosis. Cytokines (including interferons), tissue hypoxia and low pH increase TP levels. The influence of tumor TP on fluoropyrimidine toxicity is variable, but capecitabine is a prodrug of fluorouracil that requires activation by TP and hence may have a higher therapeutic index than other fluoropyrimidines. Folate-based thymidylate synthase inhibitors may also be more effective in tumors with a high TP because of increased degradation of endogenous thymidine. Copyright 1999 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P. Ackland
- Department of Medical Oncology, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, NSW, Australia
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Hata K, Kamikawa T, Arao S, Tashiro H, Katabuchi H, Okamura H, Fujiwaki R, Miyazaki K, Fukumoto M. Expression of the thymidine phosphorylase gene in epithelial ovarian cancer. Br J Cancer 1999; 79:1848-54. [PMID: 10206303 PMCID: PMC2362806 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6690294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is associated with angiogenesis and the progression of solid tumours. High intracellular levels of this enzyme indicate increased chemosensitivity to pyrimidine antimetabolites. TP gene expression in 56 cases of epithelial ovarian cancer (27 of serous, 10 mucinous, 12 endometrioid, five clear cell and two undifferentiated) were analysed by polymerase chain reaction of RNA after reverse transcription. These included eight of low malignant potential. Twenty were stage I, four stage II, 27 stage III and five stage IV. The level of TP gene expression was presented by the relative yield of the TP gene to the beta2-microglobulin gene. TP gene expression ranged from 0.19 to 5.38 (median 0.93). The value of TP gene expression in stage III-IV was significantly higher than that of TP gene expression in stage I-II (P = 0.0005). Histological grade significantly associated with TP gene expression (P = 0.008), but histological subtype did not (P = 0.166). A follow-up study of 34 cases after complete resection of the primary tumours by surgical operation was performed. TP gene expression of the cases with recurrence showed significantly higher levels compared to cases without recurrence (P = 0.049). Survival data were available for 47 of the 56 patients. The prognosis of the patients with high TP gene expression (equal to, or greater than, median) was to be significantly worse than patients with low TP gene expression (less than median) (P = 0.021). The TP gene expression level may play one of the key roles in the biology of ovarian epithelial cancer and define a more aggressive tumour phenotype. A new therapeutic intervention mediated by TP protein activity is anticipated.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Hata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan
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Fukuiwa T, Takebayashi Y, Akiba S, Matsuzaki T, Hanamure Y, Miyadera K, Yamada Y, Akiyama S. Expression of thymidine phosphorylase and vascular endothelial cell growth factor in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and their different characteristics. Cancer 1999; 85:960-9. [PMID: 10091776 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19990215)85:4<960::aid-cncr26>3.0.co;2-p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF). dThdPase is known to promote the development of new blood vessels, which are fundamental to tumor growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a 34-42 kilodalton (kD) protein that induces both angiogenesis and vascular permeability. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a 36 kD nuclear protein, and its expression is associated with DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. METHODS The authors investigated the correlations of dThdPase and VEGF with the growth of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in 95 patients by examining PCNA expression as a marker of tumor proliferation. They also retrospectively examined the expression of dThdPase in primary HNSCC and its association with angiogenesis and clinicopathologic findings. RESULTS Microvessel count was significantly correlated with the expression of VEGF (P = 0.046) but not with dThdPase expression. The expression of PCNA was significantly correlated with dThdPase (P < 0.001) but not VEGF expression. A significant correlation was found between VEGF and dThdPase expression (P = 0.003). Neither dThdPase nor VEGF correlated with clinicopathologic findings, except for the correlation between tumor location and VEGF expression (P 0.020). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that VEGF is involved in angiogenesis in HNSCC. dThdPase may have effects on tumor growth other than angiogenic activity in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Fukuiwa
- Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Japan
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Takebayashi Y, Natsugoe S, Baba M, Akiba S, Fukumoto T, Miyadera K, Yamada Y, Takao S, Akiyama S, Aikou T. Thymidine phosphorylase in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer 1999; 85:282-9. [PMID: 10023693 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19990115)85:2<282::aid-cncr3>3.0.co;2-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experimental evidence has shown that thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) and has angiogenic activity. The enzymatic activity of dThdPase was needed for the angiogenesis by the enzyme. These observations were catalysts for the current study. METHODS The authors examined retrospectively the expression of the angiogenic factor dThdPase in 163 primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and its association with angiogenesis and clinicopathologic findings. To determine whether dThdPase expression was a prognostic factor after adjustment for the established prognostic factors and microvessel count, the authors conducted a survival analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS dThdPase was expressed significantly more frequently (P < 0.001) in esophageal carcinomas (83 of 163, 50.9%) than in adjacent nonneoplastic esophageal tissue samples (20 of 163, 12.3%). Microvessel counts were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in dThdPase positive carcinomas (18.3+/-6.2) than in dThdPase negative carcinomas (8.2+/-7.5). Significant correlations were observed between dThdPase expression and numerous clinicopathologic findings, including pT, pN, pM categories; lymphatic invasion; venous invasion; and residual tumors. Prognostic variables studied using a Cox hazard regression model confirmed that dThdPase expression was an independent prognostic factor in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, although pN category was the best predictor of patient survival. CONCLUSIONS This study indicated that in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, dThdPase expression is associated with angiogenesis and is an unfavorable prognostic factor. These findings implied that the inhibition of dThdPase would improve the prognoses of some patients with dThdPase positive esophageal tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Takebayashi
- First Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Japan
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Yonenaga F, Takasaki T, Ohi Y, Sagara Y, Akiba S, Yoshinaka H, Aikou T, Miyadera K, Akiyama S, Yoshida H. The expression of thymidine phosphorylase/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor is correlated to angiogenesis in breast cancer. Pathol Int 1998; 48:850-6. [PMID: 9832053 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1827.1998.tb03851.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
It has been shown that human thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor and has angiogenic activity. In the present study, the expression of TP was examined in 139 mammary carcinomas and 35 benign mammary disorders using biochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Moreover, in order to evaluate the significance of TP expression in mammary carcinomas, the relationship between vascular density and various clinicopathological factors, including age and menopausal status of patients with a mammary carcinoma, were compared with the size, nodal status, expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), c-erbB-2, p53 and TP of a mammary carcinoma. Thymidine phosphorylase expression increased in both the nuclei and cytoplasm of mammary carcinoma cells in comparison to mammary benign disorder cells. The number of microvessels in mammary carcinomas was generally correlated to the number of tumor cells with TP expression in cytoplasm. The number of cells with TP expression in cytoplasm was significantly large in tumors that measured 3-4 cm in diameter, compared with tumors measuring 1-2 and 5-6 cm in diameter. In mammary tumors of 1-4 cm diameter, TP expression and vessel density were significantly high in tumors negative for ER or positive for c-erbB2 and in tumors positive for TP or c-erbB2, respectively; whereas tumors of 5-6 cm in diameter were not modified by any clinicopathological factors. The results indicated that TP plays an important angiogenetic role in mammary carcinomas, especially tumors with a certain progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Yonenaga
- Department of Pathology I, Institute for Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Japan
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Abstract
Angiogenesis is the term used to describe the formation of new blood vessels from the existing vasculature. In order to attract new vessels, a tissue must release an endothelial-cell chemoattractant. 2-Deoxy-D-ribose is produced in vivo by the catalytic action of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) on thymidine and has recently been identified as an endothelial-cell chemoattractant and angiogenesis-inducing factor. TP, previously known only for its role in nucleotide salvage, is now known to be angiogenic. TP expression is elevated in many solid tumours and in chronically inflamed tissues, both known areas of active angiogenesis. There is evidence that TP is also involved in physiological angiogenesis such as endometrial angiogenesis during the menstrual cycle. The majority of known endothelial-cell chemoattractants are polypeptides that bind to endothelial-cell-surface receptors. In contrast, 2-deoxy-D-ribose appears to lack a cell-surface receptor. Glucose is another sugar that acts as an endothelial-cell chemoattractant. The migratory activity of glucose is blocked by ouabain. It is possible that 2-deoxy-D-ribose and glucose stimulate endothelial-cell migration via a similar mechanistic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- N S Brown
- Molecular Angiogenesis Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, U.K
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Jin-no K, Tanimizu M, Hyodo I, Nishikawa Y, Hosokawa Y, Endo H, Doi T, Mandai K, Ishitsuka H. Circulating platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor increases in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Cancer 1998. [DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19980401)82:7<1260::aid-cncr8>3.0.co;2-j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Igarashi M, Dhar DK, Kubota H, Yamamoto A, El-Assal O, Nagasue N. The prognostic significance of microvessel density and thymidine phosphorylase expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Cancer 1998; 82:1225-32. [PMID: 9529012 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19980401)82:7<1225::aid-cncr3>3.0.co;2-e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus is among the most malignant of neoplasms and is associated with a dismal prognosis. Although tumor microvessel density (MVD) is an important prognostic factor in several carcinomas, its role in SCC of the esophagus is still controversial. Also, the role of thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase), a key angiogenic growth factor, is yet to be delineated in this disease. METHODS Immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibodies was used to quantify microvessel and dThdPase expression in archival tissue specimens from 93 patients with SCC of the esophagus. RESULTS High dThdPase expression and high MVD were associated with tumor progression (size and stage) and lymph node metastasis, but only MVD was a predictor of survival. dThdPase expression was significantly correlated with depth of tumor invasion (P = 0.015). In multivariate analysis, MVD was an independent predictor of survival in the lymph node negative cases. A significant correlation was noted between MVD and dThdPase expression, with a correlation coefficient of 0.083 (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS MVD is an independent factor in determining the prognoses of lymph node negative patients with SCC of the esophagus. dThdPase could be a key factor in the angiogenesis of this disease and may be responsible for its aggressive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Igarashi
- Second Department of Surgery, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan
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Hata K, Akiba S, Hata T, Miyazaki K. A multivariate logistic regression analysis in predicting malignancy for patients with ovarian tumors. Gynecol Oncol 1998; 68:256-62. [PMID: 9570977 DOI: 10.1006/gyno.1998.4947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our objective was to improve the preoperative diagnosis of ovarian malignancy using a multivariate logistic regression analysis on the basis of demographic, serologic, gray-scale morphological, and Doppler variables. METHODS One hundred seventy-one patients with ovarian tumors (120 benign, 51 malignant including 9 tumors of low malignant potential) were studied with transvaginal B-mode, color, and pulsed Doppler ultrasonography before surgery. Based on the gray-scale ultrasound imaging, each tumor was classified as a unilocular cyst, multilocular cyst, unilocular cyst with solid parts, multilocular cyst with solid parts, or solid tumor. Intratumoral blood flow velocity waveforms were recorded on all tumors except unilocular cyst and were evaluated for resistance index (RI) and peak systolic velocity (PSV). Serum CA 125 levels were also measured. RESULTS Twenty tumors were unilocular cysts and were all benign. Seventy tumors including all unilocular cysts which showed no flows were all benign. The remaining 101 tumors (50 benign, 51 malignant including 9 tumors of low malignant potential) presented intratumoral blood flows. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify variables predictive of ovarian malignancy in these 101 tumors. The variables included age, menstrual state, serum CA 125 levels, B-mode classification, RI, and PSV. In univariate analysis, menopause, the positivity of CA 125 (> or = 35 U/ml), and PSV larger than or equal to 10.4 cm/s were found to be significantly associated with malignant tumors. The PSV value of 10.4 cm/s was the median in benign tumors. Multivariate analysis showed that serum CA 125 levels (> or = 35 U/ml) (P = 0.002) and PSV (> or = 10.4 cm/s) (P < 0.001) were to be independent predictors of malignancy. CONCLUSION These results suggest that intratumoral PSV is the strongest means of differentiating benign from malignant ovarian tumors with suspicious gray-scale ultrasonographic findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Hata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
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Doussis-Anagnostopoulou IA, Remadi S, Turley H, Gindre P, Comley M, Borisch B, Gatter KC. Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase immunohistochemical expression in lymphoid tissue and lymphoid malignancies. Hum Pathol 1997; 28:1146-51. [PMID: 9343321 DOI: 10.1016/s0046-8177(97)90252-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The catabolic enzyme thymidine phosphorylase (TP) plays a crucial role in nucleic acid metabolism by regulating the availability of thymidine. Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is an angiogenic factor that was recently shown to be TP. The angiogenic properties of PD-ECGF/TP are attributable to a reduction of thymidine levels that results in a promotion of endothelial cell proliferation. Early studies showed a higher concentration of TP in macrophages than in parenchymal cells and in neoplastic than in nonneoplastic tissues. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of PD-ECGF/TP in reactive lymphoid tissues (lymph node and tonsil), as well as in a series of 20 cases of Hodgkin's disease and 31 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Macrophages, sinus lining cells, and cells with dendritic morphology, of both follicular dendritic and interdigitating reticular cell type, presented a prominent nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity in reactive lymphoid tissue and in malignant lymphomas. Small lymphocytes and the neoplastic population were always negative, whereas endothelial staining was variable and showed no correlation to the type or grade of the lymphomas. In Hodgkin's disease (with the exception of the nodular lymphocyte predominance type) and some cases of high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, the positive dendritic cells formed a dense meshwork closely surrounding the neoplastic population. Our results suggest that the reported upregulation of PD-ECGF/TP activity in lymphoid malignancies is attributable to the nonneoplastic population, especially to cells of dendritic morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- I A Doussis-Anagnostopoulou
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Centre Medical Universitaire, Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
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Hata K, Hata T, Collins WP. Association of thymidine phosphorylase concentration with ultrasound-derived indices of blood flow in ovarian masses. Cancer 1997; 80:1079-84. [PMID: 9305708 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19970915)80:6<1079::aid-cncr10>3.0.co;2-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the concentration of thymidine phosphorylase (a known angiogenic factor) and indices of blood flow in physiologic ovarian tissues and overt (benign and malignant) tumors. METHODS The ovaries of all patients were examined by transvaginal ultrasonography, with color Doppler imaging and pulsed Doppler spectral analysis, within the 24 hours preceding laparotomy. Ovaries removed at surgery were dissected into their main components (follicles, corpus luteum, and tumor) and, where possible, into areas of high blood velocity according to the results of color Doppler imaging. The concentration of thymidine phosphorylase was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Thirty-eight tissue aliquots (16 from normal ovaries and 22 from ovarian tumors) were obtained from 33 patients. Twenty-nine tissue samples (76%) came from areas of measurable (high) blood velocity. The concentration of thymidine phosphorylase was significantly higher in tissue associated with high blood velocity (median 17.9, range 1.8-78.3 units per mg of protein vs. median 6.8, range 1.3-24.7 units per mg of protein, respectively; P < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). All of 8 corpora lutea, 12 of 14 benign tumors, and 7 of 7 malignant tumors had measurable blood velocity. There was a significant correlation between the concentration of thymidine phosphorylase and the peak systolic velocity in benign tumors (correlation coefficient [r] = 0.79, P < 0.01) and malignant tumors (r = 0.87, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS High intratumoral peak systolic velocity as determined by transvaginal color Doppler imaging and spectral analysis reflects high production of thymidine phosphorylase. This finding may aid the development of antivascular therapy for patients with ovarian carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Hata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan
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Fox SB, Engels K, Comley M, Whitehouse RM, Turley H, Gatter KC, Harris AL. Relationship of elevated tumour thymidine phosphorylase in node-positive breast carcinomas to the effects of adjuvant CMF. Ann Oncol 1997; 8:271-5. [PMID: 9137797 DOI: 10.1023/a:1008280110558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) catalyses the reversible phosphorylation of thymidine to thymine and 2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate. High expression of TP in cell lines potentiates the effects of the cytotoxic drugs 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate, both of which are used in the cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate (CMF) treatment regimen of breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS We therefore examined the expression of this enzyme in 328 invasive breast carcinomas using immunohistochemistry and assessed whether the expression of this enzyme by the tumour predicts patients response to CMF in node-positive patients. RESULTS Whereas no significant difference in either relapse-free survival (RFS) (P = 0.2) or overall survival (OS) (P = 0.07) was observed between TP-negative and -positive tumours in non-treated patients, there was a significant increase in both RFS (P = 0.02) and OS (P = 0.02) in patients treated with CMF in TP-positive compared with TP-negative tumours. A multivariate analysis of the 134 node-positive patients demonstrated that in ductal carcinomas, TP was an independent variable for OS. CONCLUSIONS This pilot study suggests that patients with TP-positive tumours have a significant survival benefit when treated with CMF and supports the hypothesis that TP enhances tumour sensitivity to the anti-metabolites 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate.
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Affiliation(s)
- S B Fox
- Department of Cellular Science, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, UK
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Giatromanolaki A, Koukourakis MI, Comley M, Kaklamanis L, Turley H, O'Byrne K, Harris AL, Gatter KC. Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (thymidine phosphorylase) expression in lung cancer. J Pathol 1997; 181:196-9. [PMID: 9120725 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9896(199702)181:2<196::aid-path763>3.0.co;2-u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase (PD-ECGF/TP) is an enzyme with angiogenic and cell motility properties. Moreover, it is involved in the transformation of fluoropyrimidines into active cytotoxic metabolites. In the present study, the expression of PD-ECGF in normal lung and lung cancer was immunohistochemically evaluated using the P-GF.44C monoclonal antibody. Alveolar and tumoural macrophages were invariably stained and were used as an internal control for assessment of the staining. Alveolar epithelium was always negative, whilst bronchiolar epithelium showed occasional positive reactivity. Normal lung and tumour endothelium was occasionally positive. Positive staining in more than 50 per cent of cells was observed in 23/71 squamous carcinomas (32 per cent), 16/38 (42 per cent) adenocarcinomas, and 2/6 (33 per cent) adenosquamous carcinomas. Differentiated areas and areas of squamous metaplasia were more strongly positive than other tumour areas. All 22 small cell carcinomas and one carcinoid tumour were negative. The present study provides a baseline for future studies in non-small cell lung cancer to correlate PD-ECGF expression with tumour vascularization, prognosis, and response to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Giatromanolaki
- Department of Cellular Science, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, U.K
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Koukourakis MI, Giatromanolaki A, O'Byrne KJ, Comley M, Whitehouse RM, Talbot DC, Gatter KC, Harris AL. Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression correlates with tumour angiogenesis and prognosis in non-small-cell lung cancer. Br J Cancer 1997; 75:477-81. [PMID: 9052396 PMCID: PMC2063312 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1997.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a recently described prognostic factor in non-small-cell lung cancer. Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), shown to be the enzyme thymidine phosphorylase (TP), induces angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. High intracellular levels of the enzyme are associated with increased chemosensitivity to pyrimidine antimetabolites. PD-ECGF/TP expression was evaluated immunohistochemically in surgically resected specimens from 107 patients with operable non-small-cell lung cancer using the P-GF,44C monoclonal antibody. High expression of PD-ECGF/TP was found in 25% of cases and was associated with high vascular grade (P = 0.01). Fourteen of 32 (44%) high vascular grade tumours showed a positive reactivity for PD-ECGF/TP vs 13/75 (17%) of low/medium vascular grade. Positive expression was observed more frequently in T2-staged cases than in T1 (P = 0.04). While overall survival was not affected (P = 0.09), subset analysis revealed that node-negative patients with positive PD-ECGF/TP expression had a worse prognosis (P = 0.04). The results suggest that PD-ECGF/TP may be an important molecule involved in angiogenesis in non-small-cell lung cancer. Up-regulation of the enzyme defines a more aggressive tumour phenotype in patients with node-negative disease. Assessment of vascular grade and PD-ECGF/TP expression should be taken into account in the design of randomized trials assessing the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- M I Koukourakis
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, University Hospital of Iraklion, Crete, Greece
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Griffiths L, Stratford IJ. Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor thymidine phosphorylase in tumour growth and response to therapy. Br J Cancer 1997; 76:689-93. [PMID: 9310231 PMCID: PMC2228052 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1997.447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth and metastasis of solid tumours. Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is known to be chemotactic for endothelial cells in vitro and angiogenic in vivo. It is also known as gliostatin, a factor promoting neuronal survival, and thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase), which catalyses the reversible phosphorylation of thymidine to thymine and 2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate. This enzymatic activity is critical for angiogenic activity. PD-ECGF protein is highly expressed in tumours compared with most normal tissues and has been correlated with tumour growth, invasion and metastasis in clinical studies. In addition, dThdPase activity (by inference PD-ECGF) has been found to be a major determinant of the toxicity of 5-fluorouracil and its prodrugs, which are extensively studied clinically as anti-cancer agents. This review attempts to summarize recent gains in understanding the nature, location and action of PD-ECGF and its specific relevance to tumour biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Griffiths
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester Coupland III, UK
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Takebayashi Y, Yamada K, Miyadera K, Sumizawa T, Furukawa T, Kinoshita F, Aoki D, Okumura H, Yamada Y, Akiyama S, Aikou T. The activity and expression of thymidine phosphorylase in human solid tumours. Eur J Cancer 1996; 32A:1227-32. [PMID: 8758258 DOI: 10.1016/0959-8049(96)00061-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) and has angiogenic activity. Since dThdPase seems to have an important role in angiogenesis of tumours, we measured the activity and expression of dThdPase in various tumours and the adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. We assayed dThdPase activity by spectrophotometric means, and the expression of dThdPase was examined by immunoblotting and by immunohistochemical staining using a monoclonal antibody against dThdPase. In the oesophagus, stomach, colorectum, pancreas, and lung, dThdPase activity in carcinomas was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in the adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. The expression level of dThdPase detected by immunoblotting correlated well with the activity of dThdPase. In the oesophagus, stomach, colorectum, gall bladder, pancreas and lung, the proportion of dThdPase-positive tumours was significantly higher (P < 0.05 or 0.01) than that of the dThdPase-positive adjacent normal tissues. In oesophageal, gastric colorectal and lung carcinomas, the proportion of dThdPase positivity in advanced carcinomas was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that in early carcinomas. Tumour-infiltrative macrophages or lymphocytes in the lymph node, alveolar macrophages and Kupffer cells expressed high levels of dThdPase. The results indicate that dThdPase activity and expression level in many tumours are higher than those in the adjacent non-neoplastic tissues, and that dThdPase may have an important role in the proliferation of these solid tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Takebayashi
- Department of Cancer Chemotherapy, Institute for Cancer Research, Japan
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43
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Abstract
A wide variety of cytokines are involved at every stage of tumour growth and dissemination. Primary tumour growth is helped by growth factors and angiogenic factors. These may either be produced by tumour cells themselves or be provided by one of the infiltrating cell populations, such as vascular endothelium or leukocytes. The influx of these cells is, in turn, under the control of the chemokines, a chemoattractant subfamily of cytokines. Autocrine motility factors, in conjunction with cytokines that regulate the production and activity of proteases capable of breaking down components of the extracellular matrix, are involved in the dispersal of cells from primary tumours, leading to the formation of metastases. The development of metastases may also be under the control of circulating cytokines released from the primary tumour. The ways in which cytokines and allied growth factors regulate tumour growth and development are both complex and controversial. However, the study of this system will provide a more profound understanding of tumour biology and may lead the way for the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- R P Negus
- Biological Therapies Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London, UK
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Takebayashi Y, Miyadera K, Akiyama S, Hokita S, Yamada K, Akiba S, Yamada Y, Sumizawa T, Aikou T. Expression of thymidine phosphorylase in human gastric carcinoma. Jpn J Cancer Res 1996; 87:288-95. [PMID: 8613432 PMCID: PMC5921223 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1996.tb00219.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The activity of thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) has been reported to increase in several types of malignant tumors. Experimental evidence has shown that dThdPase is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, and that dThdPase has angiogenic activity. We examined the expression of dThdPase to investigate whether the expression of dThdPase correlates with angiogenesis, clinicopathologic features and the prognosis of patients with human gastric carcinomas. Microvessels were assessed by immunostaining endothelial cells for factor VIII. We counted microvessels in the tumors of 158 patients whose tumors were completely removed surgically. Microvessels were counted in a x400 field in the most active areas of neovascularization. We purified a monoclonal antibody (TMA-1) against dThdPase and studied the expression of dThdPase using TMA-1 in the same serial sections as those used for the detection of factor VIII. The correlation between angiogenesis and dThdPase, and the clinicopathological significance of dThdPase, in patients with gastric carcinoma were examined. The positive expression of dThdPase was more frequent (P < 0.001) in gastric carcinomas (67/158, 43.4%) than that in normal tissues (12/158, 7.6%). The average microvessel count in dThdPase-positive gastric carcinomas was higher (P < 0.001) than that in dThdPase-negative carcinomas. The percentage of gastric carcinoma cells expressing dThdPase was significantly correlated with the microvessel count (P < 0.001). Further, the average size of dThdPase-positive carcinomas was significantly larger (P < 0.001) than that of negative carcinomas and the mean microvessel count in dThdPase-positive gastric carcinomas was also significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that in dThdPase-negative carcinomas. There was a significant correlation between the positive expression of dThdPase and microvessel count (P < 0.001) or lymph node metastasis (P = 0.013) by multivariate logistic analysis. Further, patients with dThdPase-positive carcinoma showed a significantly worse prognosis than those with dThdPase-negative carcinoma overall and in stage III. These findings indicate that the expression of dThdPase in gastric carcinomas is related to progression and metastasis, and this enzyme affects the prognosis of some patients with the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Takebayashi
- Department of Cancer Chemotherapy, Institute for Cancer Research, Sakuragaoka
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45
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Fox SB, Westwood M, Moghaddam A, Comley M, Turley H, Whitehouse RM, Bicknell R, Gatter KC, Harris AL. The angiogenic factor platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase is up-regulated in breast cancer epithelium and endothelium. Br J Cancer 1996; 73:275-80. [PMID: 8562330 PMCID: PMC2074437 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1996.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumour angiogenesis is a complex multistep process regulated by a number of angiogenic factors. One such factor, platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor has recently been shown to be thymidine phosphorylase (TP). TP catalyses the reversible phosphorylation of thymidine to deoxyribose-1-phosphate and thymine. Although known to be generally elevated in tumours, the expression of this enzyme in breast carcinomas is unknown. Therefore, we used ribonuclease protection assays and immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of TP in 240 primary breast carcinomas. Nuclear and/or cytoplasmic TP expression was observed in the neoplastic tumour epithelium in 53% of tumours. Immunoreactivity was also often present in the stromal, inflammatory and endothelial cell elements. Although endothelial cell staining was usually focal, immunoreactivity was observed in 61% of tumours and was prominent at the tumour periphery, an area where tumour angiogenesis is most active. Tumour cell TP expression was significantly inversely correlated with grade (P = 0.05) and size (P = 0.003) but no association was observed with other tumour variables. These findings suggest that TP is important for remodelling the existing vasculature early in tumour development, consistent with its chemotactic non-mitogenic properties, and that additional angiogenic factors are more important for other angiogenic processes like endothelial cell proliferation. Relapse-free survival was higher in node-positive patients with elevated TP (P = 0.05) but not in other patient groups. This might be due to the potentiation of chemotherapeutic agents like methotrexate by TP. Therefore, this enzyme might be a prediction marker for response to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S B Fox
- Department of Cellular Science, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, UK
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46
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Patterson AV, Zhang H, Moghaddam A, Bicknell R, Talbot DC, Stratford IJ, Harris AL. Increased sensitivity to the prodrug 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine and modulation of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine sensitivity in MCF-7 cells transfected with thymidine phosphorylase. Br J Cancer 1995; 72:669-75. [PMID: 7669579 PMCID: PMC2033908 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1995.392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is identical to human thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase). The human MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was transfected with the dThdPase cDNA and expressed a 45 kDa protein that was detected with anti-dThdPase antibody. Cell lysates possessed elevated dThdPase activity and cells had up to 165-fold increased sensitivity to the prodrug 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) in vitro. Sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (5-FUdR) was unchanged. Recombinant dThdPase was shown to catalyse directly the phosphorolytic cleavage of 5'-DFUR to 5-FU. Exogenous thymidine (dThd) reversed the toxicity of 5-FUdR on the parental line (1 microM dThd increased the IC50 value 1000-fold), but the dThd rescue was substantially modulated in the dThdPase-expressing clone 4 (1 microM dThd raised the IC50 value 3-fold). We observed a substantial 'bystander' killing effect when small proportions of dThdPase-expressing cells were mixed with parental MCF-7 cells. dThdPase activity was on average 27-fold higher in breast tumours than in normal breast. The levels of wild-type MCF-7 are similar to the low end of the tumour expression. Thus, in some tumours resistance to 5'-DFUR therapy could be due to low dThdPase activity, and transfection to raise the dThdPase levels within the broad tumour range or above it should markedly enhance sensitivity to the prodrug. These results confirm that dThdPase is a major pathway in the metabolic activation of 5'-DFUR, and the bystander effect suggests that this may be a suitable enzyme for gene therapy-directed enzyme/prodrug activation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Patterson
- ICRF Clinical Oncology Unit, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, UK
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47
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Schwartz EL, Baptiste N, Wadler S, Makower D. Thymidine phosphorylase mediates the sensitivity of human colon carcinoma cells to 5-fluorouracil. J Biol Chem 1995; 270:19073-7. [PMID: 7642571 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.270.32.19073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) potentiates the antitumor activity of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) in colon cancer in vitro, in vivo, and clinically. A likely mechanism for this action is the induction by IFN alpha of thymidine phosphorylase (TP), the first enzyme in one pathway for the metabolic activation of FUra to fluorodeoxyribonucleotides. To test this hypothesis, an expression vector containing the TP cDNA was transfected into HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells. Five stable transfectants were selected and analyzed. All showed increased sensitivity to FUra cytotoxicity, ranging from a 2-fold to a 19-fold decrease in the IC50 for FUra, compared to wild-type cells. Levels of TP mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity were elevated in the transfectants, and there was a significant correlation between the relative increase in sensitivity to FUra and both the increase in both TP mRNA levels and TP activity. Transfected cells exhibited increased formation of FdUMP, but not the ribonucleotides FUDP and FUTP, from FUra when compared to wild-type cells. The changes in TP activity, FdUMP formation, and FUra sensitivity in the transfected cells were comparable with those seen after treatment of wild-type cells with IFN alpha. These studies provide direct evidence for the role of TP in mediating the sensitivity of colon carcinoma cells to FUra, and further support the importance of the induction of TP in the biomodulating action of IFN alpha on FUra chemosensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Schwartz
- Department of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
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48
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Takebayashi Y, Yamada K, Maruyama I, Fujii R, Akiyama S, Aikou T. The expression of thymidine phosphorylase and thrombomodulin in human colorectal carcinomas. Cancer Lett 1995; 92:1-7. [PMID: 7538895 DOI: 10.1016/0304-3835(94)03754-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) is an enzyme involved in pyrimidine nucleoside metabolism. dThdPase activity is increased in several types of malignant tumors. Recently, we demonstrated that dThdPase is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) and that dThdPase has angiogenic activity. We measured dThdPase activity and the level of thrombomodulin (TM) as a marker for endothelial cells in colorectal carcinomas and adjacent normal tissues from 21 patients, and in adenomas from 13 patients. The average dThdPase activity of colorectal carcinomas (11.58 +/- 6.30 nmol/100 micrograms protein/h) was significantly higher than that of adenomas (8.57 +/- 4.14 nmol/100 micrograms protein/h) or normal tissues (4.89 +/- 3.16 nmol/100 micrograms protein/h). In immunohistochemical study, the expression of dThdPase was observed more frequently in colorectal carcinomas than in adenomas or normal mucosas. The amount of TM in colorectal carcinomas (8.32 +/- 5.07 ng/100 micrograms protein) was significantly higher than that of adenomas (4.51 +/- 4.49 ng/100 micrograms protein) or normal tissues (3.51 +/- 2.78 ng/100 micrograms protein). dThdPase activity in human colorectal carcinomas, adenomas and normal tissues was significantly correlated with the expression of TM in these tissues. These results indicate that the expression levels of both dThdPase and TM in colorectal carcinomas are higher than those in colorectal adenomas and normal tissues and suggest that dThdPase may be involved in angiogenesis in human colorectal carcinomas, adenomas and normal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Takebayashi
- First Department of Surgery, Kagoshima University, Japan
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49
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Moghaddam A, Zhang HT, Fan TP, Hu DE, Lees VC, Turley H, Fox SB, Gatter KC, Harris AL, Bicknell R. Thymidine phosphorylase is angiogenic and promotes tumor growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1995; 92:998-1002. [PMID: 7532308 PMCID: PMC42624 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.4.998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 284] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor was previously identified as the sole angiogenic activity present in platelets; it is now known to be thymidine phosphorylase (TP). The effect of TP on [methyl-3H]thymidine uptake does not arise from de novo DNA synthesis and the molecule is not a growth factor. Despite this, TP is strongly angiogenic in a rat sponge and freeze-injured skin graft model. Neutralizing antibodies and site-directed mutagenesis confirmed that the enzyme activity of TP is a condition for its angiogenic activity. The level of TP was found to be elevated in human breast tumors compared to normal breast tissue (P < 0.001). Overexpression of TP in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells had no effect on growth in vitro but markedly enhanced tumor growth in vivo. These data and the correlation of expression in tumors with malignancy identify TP as a target for antitumor strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Moghaddam
- Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford, United Kingdom
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50
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The importance of tumour angiogenesis in the process of tumour growth and metastasis has recently gained wide acceptance. This has lead to intense investigation into the biology of tumour angiogenesis and its clinical significance. An understanding of angiogenesis may allow therapeutic modulation in order to interrupt the progression from tumourigenesis to metastatic disease and control growth of distant metastases. DESIGN A review was undertaken of studies relating clinical outcome to the assessment of tumour angiogenesis in patients with cancer. RESULTS Studies have been recently reported in a variety of tumours, particularly early breast cancer and melanoma. Quantitative pathology, using microvessel counting, has been the main method applied. However assessment of angiogenic growth factors may provide an alternative. In early breast cancer many studies have shown a worse prognosis for those patients with highly vascular tumours. The prognostic influence of tumour angiogenesis is independent of conventional prognostic indicators. Similar, although more varied results, have been obtained in studies of melanoma and other tumour types. CONCLUSION Tumour angiogenesis, as assessed with quantitative pathology, is an important prognostic indicator in early breast cancer and possibly in other tumour types. Further confirmatory studies are required before this indicator is routinely used to guide treatment selection. Assessment of tumour angiogenesis will be increasingly important in the investigation of new therapies aimed at inhibiting angiogenesis or targeting tumour vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- P S Craft
- Imperial Cancer Research Fund Molecular Oncology Laboratory, University of Oxford, U.K
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