Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is an enzyme involved in DNA precursor synthesis that has been used as a biomarker for prognosis and monitoring of different malignancies. In this study, we compared two immunoassays for measuring TK1 protein concentrations: the TK 210 ELISA (AroCell AB) and TK1 ELISA from Abcam. Overall, the TK 210 ELISA showed higher sensitivity than the Abcam TK1 ELISA for differentiating hematological malignancies (sensitivity of 0.77 vs 0.45) as well as for distinguishing sera of patients with solid tumors from those of apparently healthy individuals (0.61 vs 0.20). There was no significant difference in the TK1 protein levels determined with the TK 210 ELISA between different age groups from apparently healthy individuals. These results strongly indicate that the AroCell TK 210 ELISA is accurate and sensitive enough to be a valuable tool in cancer management.

Ortega H. Predictors of uncontrolled asthma in adult and pediatric patients: analysis of the asthma control characteristics and prevalence survey studies (ACCESS). J Asthma 2010;47(3):257-262. 5. Panek M, Mokros Ł, Pietras T, Kuna P. The epidemiology of asthma and its comorbidities in Poland-health problems of patients with severe asthma as evidenced in the province of Lodz. Respir Med 2016;112:31-38. 6. Katsura H, Yamada K, Kida K. Both generic and disease specific health-related quality of life are deteriorated in patients with underweight COPD.

Summary Selecting the most appropriate chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) treatment is challenging. Patient‐reported health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) is therefore a critical aspect to consider. This international study by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) tested the psychometric properties of a newly developed measure for CLL patients: the EORTC QLQ‐CLL17 to supplement the core questionnaire (EORTC QLQ‐C30). Patients with CLL (n = 341) from 12 countries completed the QLQ‐C30, QLQ‐CLL17 and a debriefing questionnaire. Sociodemographic and clinical data were recorded from medical records. A high percentage (30%–66%) reported symptoms and/or worries (e.g. aches/pains in muscles, lack of energy and worry/fears about health). Confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable to good fit of the 17 items on the three scales (i.e. symptom burden, physical condition/fatigue and worries/fears about health and functioning). Completion took on average 8 min. Test–retest and convergent validity was demonstrated. The QLQ‐CLL17 differentiated between patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology group (ECOG) performance of 0 versus 1–3 (p's < 0.01 and clinically relevant). The newly developed EORTC QLQ‐CLL17 will increase sensitivity of HRQoL assessment in patients with CLL. Implementation of this questionnaire both in clinical research and practice will help to generate unique clinically relevant data to better inform CLL treatment decision‐making.

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