Thymidine kinase 1 in serum predicts increased risk of distant or loco-regional recurrence following surgery in patients with early breast cancer

Anticancer Res. 2006 Nov-Dec;26(6C):4753-9.

Abstract

Background: The prognostic value of the concentration of serum thymidine kinase 1 (S-TK1) with regard to recurrence in low risk breast cancer patients, 3 months after surgery was evaluated.

Patients and methods: The concentration of S-TK1 in serum was determined in 120 breast cancer patients at the time of surgery and in 67 patients 3 months after surgery, by anti-TK1 chicken IgY antibody, using a dot-blot immuno-assay. The S-TK1 concentration was compared with the serological activity of thymidine kinase (STK) and of carbohydrate antigen (CA 15-3).

Results: A statistically significant trend (unadjusted) was found for recurrence (distant or loco-regional) in patients with a higher S-TK1 concentration, as compared with patients with a lower S-TK1 concentration. A multivariate analysis gave the same results. The hazard rate ratio for developing distant and/or loco-regional recurrence in patients with a higher S-TK1 concentration was about six to seven times higher than in patients with a lower S-TK1 concentration.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that the S-TK1 concentration is higher in patients developing distant and/or loco-regional recurrence 3 months post-surgery.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Female
  • Goserelin / administration & dosage
  • Goserelin / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / enzymology*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Risk Factors
  • Tamoxifen / administration & dosage
  • Tamoxifen / therapeutic use
  • Thymidine Kinase / blood*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Tamoxifen
  • Goserelin
  • Thymidine Kinase
  • thymidine kinase 1