CLINICAL-VALUE OF THYMIDINE KINASE AND TISSUE POLYPEPTIDE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN IN BREAST-CANCER

Thymidine kinase (TK) and tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) we re determined in breast cancer (BC) patients (n=83), normal healthy wo men (n=30) and 18 women with different benign mastopathies. Mean serum levels of TK and TPS in BC patients showed significant increases from their corresponding levels in healthy women and those with benign bre ast diseases. Diagnostic sensitivity of TK and TPS was 47% and 58% res pectively at the selected cut-off values 8 U/L for TK and 110 U/L for TPS (96% specificity). Pre-operative serum levels of TK and TPS showed significant correlation with the stage of disease and with other clas sical prognostic factors; clinical stage, tumour size, lymph node invo lvement and distant metastasis. Nineteen BC patients were followed-up by serial monthly measurements of TK and TPS (4-10 samples). Both mark ers seemed to be valuable in monitoring drug efficacy. TK and TPS were able to detect systemic recurrence before clinical diagnosis (average 2 months lead time). TPS was greatly affected by liver diseases.