Reduced folat carrier gene status in colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancer

Abstract

e13540 Background: Folates play a key role in one-carbon metabolism essential for the biosynthesis of purines, thymidylate and hence DNA replication. Folates and antifolates which cannot traverse membranes must use specific transport systems for their cellular uptake. Antifolates such as raltitrexed and pemetrexed which will be used for gastrointestinal system cancer patients treatment are divalent anions which predominantly use the reduced folate carrier (RFC) for their cellular uptake. The aim of this prospective study; was documenting RFC gene status in gastric, colorectal and pancreatic cancers in southeast region of Turkey. Methods: We were evaluated homozygote, heterozygote mutations of RFC (SLC19A1) and wild type of RFC in new diagnosis gastric, colorectal and pancreas cancer patients who presented at the medical oncology and gastroenterology divisions of the Dicle University Hospital in Turkey between the dates August 2007 and October 2008 in southeast region of Turkey. Results: We were evaluated gene status of RFC in 62 (50%) colorectal, 45 (36.3%) gastric and 17 (13.7%) pancreatic cancer patients. In colorectal cancer patients group; 28 (45.9%), 19 (31.1%), 14 (23%), in gastric cancer 29 (64.4%), 7 (15.6%), 9 (20%), in pancreatic cancer 11 (64.7%), 2 (11.8%), 4 (23.5%) heterozygote, homozygote and wild type gene status, respectively. These results have no statistically significant (p=0.209) in three different gastrointestinal cancer types. Conclusions: New generation antifolat chemotherapeutic drugs such as pemetrexed which is multitargeted antifolat and enters the cells via the RFC system has demonstrated activity in gastrointestinal cancers. We think that antifolat drugs will be used in colorectal, gastric and pancreatic cancer patients in standard treatment protocols and RFC gene status will be an important of antifolat drugs activity in these tumors. No significant financial relationships to disclose.