Thymidine Phosphorylase Antibody / PD-ECGF

Recognizes a 485 amino acid protein (55 kDa monomer / 110 kDa homodimer), identified as platelet-derived endothelial growth factor (PD-ECGF), also called Thymidine Phosphorylase (TP, Tymp) or Gliostatin. In the presence of inorganic orthophosphate, it catalyzes the reversible phospholytic cleavage of thymidine and deoxyuridine to their corresponding bases and 2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate. It is both chemotactic and mitogenic for endothelial cells and a non-heparin binding angiogenic factor present in platelets. Its enzymatic activity is crucial for angiogenic activity (metabolite is angiogenic). Higher levels of serum TP/PD-ECGF are observed in cancer patients. It is also involved in transformation of fluoropyrimidines, cytotoxic agents used in the treatment of a variety of malignancies, into active cytotoxic metabolites (e.g. 5 -deoxy-5-fluorouridine to 5-FU). High intra-cellular levels of TP/PD-ECGF are associated with increased chemosensitivity to such antimetabolites.