Thymidine Phosphorylase Expression in Human Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma

Objective: To clarify the impact of thymidine phosphorylase (TPase) expression in patients with urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder (UB-UC), we investigated the expression profiles of TPase and its role in the clinical behavior of UB-UC in patients with this disease. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 patients with UB-UC were enrolled in this study. The expression intensity and pattern of TPase were examined by immunohistochemical analysis. The results were correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Results: Tumor cells were significantly immunoreactive to TPase staining, but showed stronger staining in adjacent non-tumorous stromal tissues. The staining intensity and patterns were correlated with the stage (p = 0.032, p = 0.010, respectively). Conclusions: Both the intensity and pattern of expression of TPase were associated with tumor stage in UB-UC in this cohort. There were also high expression levels of TPase in most bladder cancer cells and adjacent stromal tissues. These findings suggest that tumor and stromal TPase expressions may cooperatively promote tumor progression and angiogenesis.