title: Serum thymidine kinase 1 and C-reactive protein as biomarkers for screening clinically healthy dogs for occult disease.
abstract: Thymidine kinase (TK1) is a biomarker that correlates well with diagnosis and prognosis in certain canine cancers. Canine C-reactive protein (cCRP) is a widely accepted marker of inflammation correlated with increased risk and severity of various diseases. We evaluated serum TK1 and cCRP concentrations in apparently healthy dogs (n = 360). All dogs were followed up for a minimum of 6 months by health questionnaire. All dogs with cancer were identified using a proprietary dual-biomarker algorithm [termed Neoplasia Index (NI)]. Specificity of positive NI is 0.91 and high positive is 0.98. All-cause mortality was 20% in dogs with elevated cCRP and 3% in dogs with low cCRP. The performance of serum TK1 and cCRP as tools for screening for occult cancer is improved when evaluated together. Serum TK1 and cCRP (unified in the NI) are useful in the screening of occult canine cancer. cCRP is useful in screening for other serious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Selting
authors.affiliation: Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Diagnostics Institute, Simi Valley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ringold
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knouse
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; C092717:thymidine kinase 1
keywords: Neoplasia Index; TK; biomarker; cCRP; cancer; dog; inflammation; neoplasia; screening