EFFECTS OF 5'-DFUR AND OK-432 ON CYTOKINES AND THYMIDINE PHOSPHORYLASE IN TUMOR-TISSUE OF GASTRIC-CANCER PATIENTS

Background. The purpose of the study was to verify whether OK-432 in c ombination with 5'-DFUR induced thymidine phosphorylase (TdR Pase) and cytokines in gastric cancer patients as well as in vitro. Materials a nd Methods. Fifty patients with invasive gastric cancer were randomly assigned, upon admission using by a closed-envelope technique, to eith er a group receiving 5'DFUR or OK-432 alone, to a group receiving both 5'DFUR and OK-432, or to a non-treated group up. Surgical specimens o f the tumor and normal tissues were taken soon after gastrectomy to ev aluate TdR Pase activity, IL-1 alpha and TNF-production. Results. TdR Pase activities were several times higher in tumor than in normal tiss ues. In normal tissues, TdR Pase activities in the 5'-DFUR + OK-432 gr oup were significantly higher than in the OK-432 group. TdR Pase activ ity in tumors, however; showed no significant difference between treat ed group. In the 5'-DFUR + OK-432 group, the level of IL-1 alpha produ ction in tumor was significantly higher compared to the control group. In the 5'-DFUR + OK-432 group the level of TNF a production in tumor was significantly higher than in normal tissue. TNF a production in tu mor showed no significant difference in each treated group compared to the control. There was a significant correlation between TdR Pase act ivity and IL-1 alpha production levels in tumor: Conclusions. TdR Pase was induced by IL-1 alpha in tumor tissues of gastric cancel patients . OK-432 in combination with 5'-DFUR, however; did not induce TNF alph a and IL-1 alpha, and increase TdR Pase activity in gastric cancer tum ors.