OPRT Is a Potential Predictive Factor for the Response to S-1 in Gastric Cancer

Objective: To analyze the impact of mRNA expression of oral fluoropyrimidine (S-1) metabolism (thymidylate synthase, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, thymidine phosphorylase, and orotate phosphoribosyltransferase [OPRT]), on treatment outcomes in locally advanced gastric cancer patients receiving preoperative S-1 combined with oxaliplatin chemotherapy. Methods: Preoperative stage III gastric cancer patients received S-1 (80 mg/m/day; days 1-14) and oxaliplatin (130 mg/m; day 1) every 3 weeks and subsequently received gastrectomy with D1/D2 lymphadenectomy. Paired tumor and normal fresh frozen tissues were collected to evaluate mRNA levels of thymidylate synthase, thymidine phosphorylase, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, and orotate phosphoribosyltransferase using quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results: Between December 2009 and October 2010, thirty-five patients were enrolled in this study. 24 (68.5%) patients had clinical tumor response and 10 (28.6%) patients achieved histological response. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction results showed that orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) mRNA expression was significantly higher in histological responders than non-responders (3.75 vs. 1.81, P = 0.005). Diffuse-type gastric cancer patients demonstrated higher orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) expression levels than intestinal-type ones (2.79 vs. 1.60, P = 0.014). Similar results were not found when comparing thymidylate synthase, thymidine phosphorylase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase expression levels. Conclusion: Orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) expression level may be a potential predictive biomarker in advanced gastric cancer patients treated with oral fluoropyrimidine (S-1) based chemotherapy. Mini Abstract: Orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) expression level may be a potential predictive biomarker in advanced gastric cancer patients treated with oral fluoropyrimidine (S-1) based chemotherapy.