ISSN:
1569-8041
Keywords:
5-fluorouracil
;
colorectal cancer
;
p53
;
thymidylate synthase
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Background:We assessed the hypothesis that a compromised p53function could account for the non response of colon cancer patients withlow thymidylate synthase (TS) expression receiving a bolus 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)–leucovorin (LV) combination. Patients and methods:The study population consisted of 41patients with unresectable metastatic colon cancer, homogeneosuly, treatedwith bolus 5-FU and LV. Results:Twenty-seven patients (66%) showed high levels ofTS expression. The difference in the proportion of objective responses betweenpatients with low (CR + PR: 7 of 14, 50%) and high (CR + PR: 0 of 27)TS levels was statistically significant (P = 0.0001, chi-squaretest). p53nuclear overexpression was found in 27 of 41 patients(66%). No differences were observed in p53overexpression inpatients with high (66%) or low (66%) TS expression. p53status was not found to be associated with response even in patients withlow TS expression. Conclusions: p53status measured by immunohistochemistrydoes not seem to be useful to identify unresponsive patients with low TSexpression.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008362511552
Permalink