title: Elevated serum thymidine kinase activity in canine splenic hemangiosarcoma*.
abstract: Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is a soluble biomarker associated with DNA synthesis. This prospective study evaluated serum TK1 activity in dogs presenting with hemoabdomen and a splenic mass. An ELISA using azidothymidine as a substrate was used to evaluate TK1 activity. Sixty-two dogs with hemoabdomen and 15 normal controls were studied. Serum TK1 activity was significantly higher in dogs with hemangiosarcoma (HSA) than in normal dogs (mean ± SEM = 17.0 ± 5.0 and 2.01 ± 0.6, respectively), but not dogs with benign disease (mean ± SEM = 10.0 ± 3.3). Using a cut-off of 6.55 U/L, TK activity demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.52, specificity of 0.93, positive predictive value of 0.94 and negative predictive value of 0.48 for distinguishing HSA versus normal. When interval thresholds of <1.55 and >7.95 U/L were used together, diagnostic utility was increased. Serum TK1 evaluation may help to discriminate between benign disease and HSA in dogs with hemoabdomen and a splenic mass.
authors.affiliation: Animal Cancer Center, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Thamm
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kamstock
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzaferro
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Selting
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D013937:Thymidine Kinase