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Thymidine phosphorylase expression correlates with tumor differentiation and bcl-2 in invasive breast cancer

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Abstract

Background

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. Several angiogenic factors have been identified, and thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is thought to be one such factor. To date, little information is available on the relationship between TP and other clinicopathological variables.

Methods

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded materials from 116 primary breast carcinomas were used. The expression of TP, estrogen receptor, Bcl-2, Bax, p53, c-erbB-2 and MIB-1 was examined by immunohistochemical methods.

Results

Nuclear and/or cytoplasmic TP expression was observed in the neoplastic cells, and accentuation of TP was often present at the infiltrating tumor edge and intraductal spread region. Tumor cell TP expression was significantly inversely correlated with histological grade (p<0.05) and positively correlated with Bcl-2 expression, but no association with other tumor variables was found.

Conclusions

TP is associated with Bcl-2 expression and tumor differentiation in breast cancer. TP may be a new prognostic parameter for breast cancer.

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Abbreviations

TP:

Thymidine phosphorylase

ER:

Estrogen receptor

EIC:

Extensive intraductal component

5-FU:

5-flurouracil

MTX:

Methotrexate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Affiliated Kihoku Hospital, Wakayama Medical College, Wakayama

    Qifenq Yang, Takeo Sakurai, Goro Yoshimura, Zhigang Yu, Takaomi Suzuma, Takeshi Tamaki & Teiji Umemura

  2. Second Department of Pathology, Wakayama Medical College, Wakayama

    Qifenq Yang, Liang Shan, Yasushi Nakamura, Misa Nakamura, Hirotoshi Utsunomiya, Ichiro Mori & Kennichi Kakudo

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  1. Qifenq Yang
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  2. Takeo Sakurai
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Cite this article

Yang, Q., Sakurai, T., Shan, L. et al. Thymidine phosphorylase expression correlates with tumor differentiation and bcl-2 in invasive breast cancer. Breast Cancer 7, 210–214 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02967462

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02967462

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