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Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies
Published on: September 30, 2016
Thymidine phosphorylase (platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor) as a target for capecitabine: from biology
Girolamo Ranieri1, Aldo Maria Roccaro, Angelo Vacca
1National Cancer Institute, Interventional Radiology Unit, Bari, Italy.
Abstract:
Thymidine phosphorylase (TP), also known as platelet derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), is an enzyme involved in thymidine synthesis and degradation and exerts an angiogenic activity, whereas N4 pentyloxy-carbonyl- 5'-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine, commonly called capecitabine (CAP), is a TP-activated oral fluorpyrimidine, which generates 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) within tumours. In addition to its classic antitumour activity, recent studies suggest that CAP may act as an antiangiogenetic molecule. Assessment of tumour microvessel density as expressed by endothelial cell TP positivity may identify the most vascularized and hence CAP-sensitive tumours. This review summarizes: (i) the biochemical and tissue expression of TP; (ii) the pharmacological profile of CAP as an anti-cancer compound and the central role of TP in its activation; (iii) the potential antiangiogenetic role of TP-activated CAP in tumours.
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