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Immunohistochemical analysis of thymidylate synthase, p16 INK4a , cyclin‐dependent kinase 4 and cyclin D1 in colorectal cancers receiving preoperative chemotherapy: Significance of p16 INK4a ‐mediated cellular arrest as an indicator of chemosensitivity to 5‐fluorouracil
Author(s) -
Kamoshida Shingo,
Matsuoka Hiroshi,
Shiogama Kazuya,
Matsuyama Atsuji,
Shimomura Ryoichi,
Inada Kenichi,
Maruta Morito,
Tsutsumi Yutaka
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
pathology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1827
pISSN - 1320-5463
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1827.2004.01665.x
Subject(s) - thymidylate synthase , chemotherapy , immunohistochemistry , medicine , colorectal cancer , cyclin d1 , cancer research , biopsy , oncology , pathology , cancer , fluorouracil , cell cycle
High expression of thymidylate synthase (TS) is allegedly associated with the chemoresistance to 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) in colorectal cancers. However, low TS expression does not necessarily imply chemosensitivity. Inactivation of p16 INK4a correlates with poor prognosis in various cancers. We immunohistochemically evaluated the relationship between the expression of TS, p16 INK4a , CDK4 and cyclin D1 and the effect of 5‐FU‐based chemotherapy in colorectal cancers. After antigen retrieval, immunoperoxidase staining was performed on the paraffin‐embedded, biopsy and surgical specimens of 37 advanced colorectal cancers preoperatively treated with peroral administration of 5‐FU derivatives. As a control group, 31 colorectal cancers without preoperative treatment were analyzed. High TS expression was found in 23 (74%) of 31 tumors resected from histological non‐responders and in 19 (61%) of 31 controls but in none of six responders. High p16 INK4a expression was seen in 83% of the responders, 52% of the non‐responders and 32% of the controls. The TS‐low/p16 INK4a ‐high phenotype was noted in 83% of the responders, but only in 3% of the non‐responders ( P = 0.0001). Induction of p16 INK4a expression after chemotherapy was predominantly seen in the responders. Neither CDK4 nor cyclin D1 expression was related to the chemotherapeutic effects. In conclusion, the combination of low expression of TS and induction of p16 INK4a after chemotherapy can be important indicators of the sensitivity to 5‐FU‐based chemotherapy in colorectal cancers.