Med. Oncol. & Tumor Pharmacother, Vol. 8, No. I, pp. 29-34, 1991
0736-0118/91 $3.00 + .00 Pergamon Press plc
Printed in Great Britain
SERUM THYMIDINE KINASE IN DIAGNOSIS AND F O L L O W - U P OF THE S M A L L CELL C A R C I N O M A OF THE LUNG V. A B B A S C I A N O , * L. G R A Z I A N O , * D. A R C U D I , * G. F E L I S A T T I , i A. R. CAVALLINI,7-: M. G. R E A L I , * N. C A L I A , ) S. C A M P I , w and C. G U G L I E L M I N I w *Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Universith degli Studi di Ferrara, Corso Giovecca 203, 44100 Ferrara, Italy; tReparto di Malattie Respiratorie e Tisiologia, Universit~ degli Studi di Ferrara, Corso Giovecca 203, Ferrara, Italy; $Servizio di Medicina Nucleate, Arcispedale S. Anna, Corso Giovecca 203, Ferrara, Italy; w di Chimica Biologica, UniversitY. degli Studi de Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy (Received 16 March 1990; accepted in revised form 2 July 1990) Serum thymidine-kinase (sTK) was assayed in 48 males affected by small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) at the time of diagnosis. On the same drawing carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and [32microglobulin ([~2,ttG) were assayed in 19 of these subjects. For staging, the criterion of limited (LD) and extensive (ED) disease was used. Mean sTK and CEA values were above normal range in both the LD and ED groups, while mean [~2ttG value remained below normal range. Thirty-two patients were subsequently submitted to therapy; sTK was assayed at the end of each treatment cycle. Mean sTK concentrations differed depending on response to therapy. From the data obtained it is concluded that sTK assay is helpful for diagnosis of SCCL; CEA to a lesser extent, above all in association with sTK, and [32LtGnot at all. sTK assay can also be useful for prognosis and followup.
Key words: Serum thymidine-kinase, Small cell carcinoma of the lung, Carcinoembryonic antigen, [32Microglobulin, Markers.
increase in T K production can be expected in SCCL, due to the high growth fraction; indeed, an augmented sTK level has been reported by Gronowitz et al.~2 The aim of this study was to verify whether sTK assay and its possible association with the assay of other markers can improve SCCL diagnosis. We considered more markers since the clinical features of SCCL requires the earliest possible diagnosis, based on an increasing number of diagnostic elements. The other markers chosen were carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), as it is believed useful for diagnosis, staging and follow-up of lung cancers in general, 13-15 and [32microglobulin ([32,ttG), because it is released by neoplastic cells with elevated growth and proliferation capacity, t6-~s We also tried to relate sTK trend during therapy to the response in order to evaluate the usefulness of this assay for prognosis and follow-up.
INTRODUCTION Thymidine kinase (TK) is an enzyme catalysing the phosphorylation of thymidine. Two isoenzymes are known: TKt in the cytosol, and TK. in the mytochondria.~ TK 1 can be found in large amounts during D N A synthesis; its level, directly correlated with cell proliferation, is almost neglegible in welldifferentiated cells. 2 Serum T K (sTK) concentration is augmented in non-neoplastic and neoplastic conditions. 3 Increases have been described in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia,
0736-0118/91 $3.00 + .00 Pergamon Press plc
Printed in Great Britain
SERUM THYMIDINE KINASE IN DIAGNOSIS AND F O L L O W - U P OF THE S M A L L CELL C A R C I N O M A OF THE LUNG V. A B B A S C I A N O , * L. G R A Z I A N O , * D. A R C U D I , * G. F E L I S A T T I , i A. R. CAVALLINI,7-: M. G. R E A L I , * N. C A L I A , ) S. C A M P I , w and C. G U G L I E L M I N I w *Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Universith degli Studi di Ferrara, Corso Giovecca 203, 44100 Ferrara, Italy; tReparto di Malattie Respiratorie e Tisiologia, Universit~ degli Studi di Ferrara, Corso Giovecca 203, Ferrara, Italy; $Servizio di Medicina Nucleate, Arcispedale S. Anna, Corso Giovecca 203, Ferrara, Italy; w di Chimica Biologica, UniversitY. degli Studi de Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy (Received 16 March 1990; accepted in revised form 2 July 1990) Serum thymidine-kinase (sTK) was assayed in 48 males affected by small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) at the time of diagnosis. On the same drawing carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and [32microglobulin ([~2,ttG) were assayed in 19 of these subjects. For staging, the criterion of limited (LD) and extensive (ED) disease was used. Mean sTK and CEA values were above normal range in both the LD and ED groups, while mean [~2ttG value remained below normal range. Thirty-two patients were subsequently submitted to therapy; sTK was assayed at the end of each treatment cycle. Mean sTK concentrations differed depending on response to therapy. From the data obtained it is concluded that sTK assay is helpful for diagnosis of SCCL; CEA to a lesser extent, above all in association with sTK, and [32LtGnot at all. sTK assay can also be useful for prognosis and followup.
Key words: Serum thymidine-kinase, Small cell carcinoma of the lung, Carcinoembryonic antigen, [32Microglobulin, Markers.
increase in T K production can be expected in SCCL, due to the high growth fraction; indeed, an augmented sTK level has been reported by Gronowitz et al.~2 The aim of this study was to verify whether sTK assay and its possible association with the assay of other markers can improve SCCL diagnosis. We considered more markers since the clinical features of SCCL requires the earliest possible diagnosis, based on an increasing number of diagnostic elements. The other markers chosen were carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), as it is believed useful for diagnosis, staging and follow-up of lung cancers in general, 13-15 and [32microglobulin ([32,ttG), because it is released by neoplastic cells with elevated growth and proliferation capacity, t6-~s We also tried to relate sTK trend during therapy to the response in order to evaluate the usefulness of this assay for prognosis and follow-up.
INTRODUCTION Thymidine kinase (TK) is an enzyme catalysing the phosphorylation of thymidine. Two isoenzymes are known: TKt in the cytosol, and TK. in the mytochondria.~ TK 1 can be found in large amounts during D N A synthesis; its level, directly correlated with cell proliferation, is almost neglegible in welldifferentiated cells. 2 Serum T K (sTK) concentration is augmented in non-neoplastic and neoplastic conditions. 3 Increases have been described in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia,
