EXPRESSION OF THYMIDINE PHOSPHORYLASE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A POOR-PROGNOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH DUCTAL ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE PANCREAS

Thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) is identical to platelet-derived en dothelial cell growth factor and has angiogenic activity. In this stud y, we investigated the expression of dThdPase in ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and examined the correlation between dThdPase express ion and clinicopathological factors and clinical outcome. dThdPase exp ression was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in the cytoplasm of t umor cells in 59% of the 54 patients studied. The expression of dThdPa se correlated significantly with a poor prognosis (P = 0.013), Signifi cant correlations were also observed between dThdPase expression and e xtrapancreatic neural plexus invasion and the presence of postoperativ e hepatic metastases (P = 0.05 and 0.03, respectively). The average mi crovessel count in dThdPase-positive tumors was significantly higher t han that in dThdPase-negative tumors (P < 0,0001). These findings sugg est that dThdPase expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma enhances the abilities of tumor invasion and/or metastasis through its angiogenic properties.