Serum thymidine kinase 1 is a reliable maker for the assessment of the risk of developing malignancy: A case report

Abstract

Abstract.With regard to different types of malignancies, thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is a useful prognostic marker in clinical oncology, both as a serum proliferation marker and in immunohistochemistry. The present study investigated the use of serum TK1 protein (STK1p) for the identification of multiple proliferating diseases linked to the risk of developing cancer, by following one patient during the period of [2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009][2010][2011][2012][2013][2014]. The patient presented with adenomatous polyps in the stomach in 2003, follicular cervicitis in 2007 and hyperplasia of the breast/fibrocystic breasts in 2010. The breast cysts increased from 4x5 mm in size in 2010 to 8x7 mm in size in 2013, and were assessed as a suspicious malignancy at the end of this period. In parallel, the STK1p values increased from 2.0 to 7.6 pM. Based on this information, a minimally invasive surgery using the Mammotome ® Biopsy System was performed. Immunohistochemistry on the cyst tissue showed strong staining of TK1 in the ductal epithelial cells and thus confirmed the abnormal proliferation in the lesion. One week after the surgery, the STK1p value had decreased to almost normal values (1.6 pM), but then fluctuated above 2.0 pM for the next 7 months. After the surgery, the patient was re-examined and small foci with squamous cell hyperplasia and a suspected ulcerated cervix, as well as flat gastric erosive, were identified, but not treated; this may explain why the STK1 P-values did not return to within normal values. The patient is currently being followed up using STK1p analysis combined with imaging/pathology in order to begin therapeutic intervention as early as possible to avoid the risk of developing cancer. Overall, STK1p is useful in health screening to identify individuals at risk of developing premalignancy/malignancy.

Epstein - Barr virus Reactivation Associated with an Increased Thymidine Kinase and Normalized by an Immuno Modulatory Nano-Therapy: Three Case Reports

“…In proliferating normal and tumor cells, the level of TK1 starts to increases at late G 1 phase, and reaches a maximum in late S-phase/early G 2 phase of the cell cycle, but in quiescent cells, TK1 is almost completely absent; this singles out TK1 as a useful indicator of cellular proliferation, and hence for malignancy in a lot of cases. Serum TK1 protein (STK1p) level, determined by non-invasive serological methods, was found to be an emerging potential cell proliferation biomarker for the prognosis of cancer patients, for monitoring tumor treatments, relapse, followup and survival, and particularly for the early detection of cancer development risk [10]. In another study conducted in China, follow-up data (3-6 years) of individuals with elevated TK showed a 3-to 5-fold higher risk of developing malignancies, compared to individuals with normal TK values in the serum [11].…”