Background/aims: We investigated whether the serum Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) levels in venous blood drainage specimens were associated with the prognosis and risk of liver metastasis in patients with resectable colorectal cancer.
Methodology: From 88 patients with colorectal cancer, specimens of venous blood drainage were obtained during operation. The serum TP levels were measured by a highly sensitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method.
Results: Subsequently, 88 patients were divided into two groups based on the levels of TP. The dividing line was determined to be 55ng/mL. The TP-high group (> 55ng/mL) had a significantly shorter overall survival than the TP-low group (< 55ng/mL). A multivariate analysis indicated that the serum TP level in venous blood drainage specimens to be a better prognostic factor independent of the traditional pathologic parameters. The serum TP levels of 3 patients with metachronous liver metastasis were high (> 55ng/mL).
Conclusions: These findings suggest that the serum TP levels in venous blood drainage specimens reflect the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer undergoing curative resection, particularly the risk of liver metastasis.