Abstract

Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is an enzyme that acts as a proangiogenic factor. Overexpression of the enzyme was observed in various solid tumors and several chronic inflammatory diseases, where it was correlated with level of angiogenesis and elevated progression of the disease. TP inhibitors are compounds designed to interfere with the processes connected with catalytic function of this enzyme including TP-mediated angiogenesis and the degradation of important antiviral and anticancer drugs. This chapter comprehensively reviews the hitherto known TP inhibitors with further insight into their potential applications in the clinical practices.