Thymidine phosphorylase and its possible correlation with the lung cancer phenotype features

Abstract

The tumor phenotype investigation is necessary for lung cancer drug therapy optimization. For this purpose is perspective to use the biochemical markers of angiogenesis. Thymidine phosphorylase may be one of them.Aim. The aim of study was to evaluate the correlation between the enzyme activity in tumors and the levels of expression of the vascular endothelial marker CD34.Methods and results. They were examined spectrophotometrically and by the immunohistochemical method, respectively, in 25 samples of lung cancer tissues. It was shown that its activity in tumors is higher as compared to non-neoplastic adjacent tissues (from 30 to150 nmol/min·mg; in 20 cases from total number). The enzyme activity changes were dependent of the levels of the CD 34, a positive correlation between them was shown (the index of Spearman’s rank correlation, i.e. ρ = 0,668; p<0,05).Conclusion. These findings suggest the possibility of using thymidine phosphorylase as a biochemical marker of angiogenesis, its relationship with the lung cancer phenotype features.