[Influences of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) on cell cycle in patients with breast cancer]

Recently, the effectiveness of preoperative chemotherapy for cancer treatment has attracted much attention. The authors conducted a study to investigate the influence of 5'-DFUR administration on the cell cycle, based on DNA analysis using FCM in patients with breast cancer. A total of 53 patients with breast cancer (Stages I, II and III) were investigated concerning tumor PyNPase activity and cell cycle phase. Subjects were stratified according to tumor diameter, histologic type and ER in the group receiving preoperative 5'-DFUR administration (25 patients) and the group not receiving 5'-DFUR (28 patients). The subjects in the group on 5'-DFUR preoperative administration were classified into three sub-groups according to total dosages of 400 mg (8 patients), under 4,800 mg (8 patients) and 4,800 mg or over (9 patients). In terms of tumor diameter, significant increases (p = 0.027) of S-phase were observed in patients with the diameters of 5 cm or more in the sub-group of under 4,800 mg dosage. Similar tendencies were seen in all drug administration groups (p = 0.05). However, no influence was observed on S-phase in the group without 5'-DFUR administration. In terms of ER stratification, ER(-) patients in the dosing groups showed increasing tendencies in S-phase and significant differences of G1- as well as G2+M phases. No differences in PyNPase activity were noted in each stratified group. Preoperative administration of 5'-DFUR resulted in alterations of cell cycle in breast cancers. In patients with a total drug dosage of under 4,800 mg and with tumor diameters of 5 cm or more, increases of S-phase and decreases of G1-phase were observed. It was suggested that 5'-DFUR acted in DNA synthesizing stage to accumulate S-phase inhibiting cell cycles. Consequently, this drug is considered useful for neoadjuvant chemotherapy.