CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF PYRIMIDINE NUCLEOSIDE PHOSPHORYLASE IN COLORECTAL-CARCINOMA

The expression of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase (PyNPase) mRNA i n tumor (T) and normal (N) biopsy specimens obtained from 41 cases of colorectal carcinoma was examined by the reverse transcriptase/polymer ase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The higher T/N ratio of the expression of PyNPase mRNA correlated significantly with the presence of lymph vess el invasion (p=0.039), the positive lymph node metastasis (p=0.014) an d the advanced stage of the disease (p=0.014). There was a significant con-elation between the results determined by enzyme activity and tho se determined by RT-PCR (p=0.005). The findings suggested that the det ermination of PyNPase mRNA by RT-PCR may give useful information on tu mor aggressiveness of colorectal carcinoma and this method can be used instead of enzyme activity.