Thymidylate Synthase: A Predictive Biomarker in Resected Colorectal Liver Metastases Receiving 5-FU Treatment

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the role of thymidylate synthase (TS) as a predictive biomarker in patients with resected colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Materials & methods: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were queried up to June 2017. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects model. Risk of bias was assessed using funnel plots. Results: Six eligible studies were included, comprising a total of 542 patients. Meta-analysis demonstrated a trend to reduced overall survival in patients with resected CRLM with TS overexpression, with a hazard ratio of 1.13 (95% CI: 0.99–1.29; p = 0.08). In three studies where patients received systemic fluorouracil, the pooled hazard ratio was 2.25 (95% CI: 1.37–3.71; p = 0.001). Conclusion: TS appears to be a clinically relevant predictive biomarker in patients with resected CRLM receiving systemic 5-FU.

Keywords::

• biomarker
• colorectal liver metastases
• predictive
• prognosis
• thymidylate synthase

Financial and competing interest disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any orgnanization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.