Table 3. Association between TS, TP, and ERCC-1 and response (semiquantitative and quantitative analysis).

	Response (CR+PR)
	χ 2	Relative risk, 95% CI
TS extent (3–4 vs 0–2)	59.5 vs 40.5% (P=0.009)	3.70 (1.37–10.0)
TS intensity (2–3 vs 0–1)	54.1 vs 45.9% (P=0.030)	3.03 (1.10–8.33)
TS score (extent × intensity) (> 6 vs 6 ⩽)	59.5 vs 40.5% (P=0.005)	6.67 (1.69–25.0)
High TS, TP expression (both high score vs others)	54.1 vs 45.9% (P=0.022)	3.70 (1.23–11.11)
High TS, TP expression with low ERCC1 expression	63.2 vs 36.8% (P=0.016)	3.45 (1.33–11.10)
	Response (CR+PR)
	ANOVA	Relative risk
TS extent (%)	P<0.0001	3.77
TP extent (%)	P=0.045	4.12

Abbreviations: ANOVA=analysis of variance; CI=confidence interval; CR=complete response; ERCC1=excision repair cross-complementation group 1; PR=partial response; TP=thymidine phosphorylase; TS=thymidine synthase.

Intensity was graded on a semiquantitative scale from 0 to 3, where 0=no staining, 1=weak staining, 2=strong staining, and 3=very strong staining. The area of the most intense staining was graded on a scale from 0 to 4, where 0=no staining, 1=staining of 0–10% of tumour cells, 2=10–25% of tumour cells, 3=staining of 25–50% of tumour cells, and 4=staining of >50% of tumour cells. A TS score was calculated by multiplying the intensity and extent grades. TS scores <6 were considered low, and score >6 were defined as high in this study. The same criteria were applied for TP and ERCC1 staining results.