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Serum thymidine kinase levels in cancer patients

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Summary

Serum levels of the nucleotide salvage pathway enzyme, thymidine kinase, were assayed in 92 patients with cancer (comprised of 17 cancer types) and 42 subjects without cancer. Patients with cancer as a whole did not have significantly higher levels of thymidine kinase than the control patients. Although the numbers of patients from each specific cancer type were small, four cancers; namely breast, bone, prostate and rectal, had significantly increased thymidine kinase levels relative to controls. Breast cancer also exhibited a significant cor-relation between cancer stage and the level of serum thymidine kinase.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, University of Ulster, BT52 TSA, Coleraine

    K. L. O’Neill & P. G. McKenna

  2. The Northern Ireland Radiotherapy Centre, Belvoir Park Hospital, Belfast

    W. P. Abram

Authors
  1. K. L. O’Neill
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  2. W. P. Abram
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  3. P. G. McKenna
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Additional information

The authors acknowledge the co-operation of Mr. T. E. B. Dane, F.R.C.S., Dr. W. J. Love and Dr. K. Fitzpatrick, without which the present study would not have been possible. This research was funded by the Ulster Cancer Foundation.

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O’Neill, K.L., Abram, W.P. & McKenna, P.G. Serum thymidine kinase levels in cancer patients. I.J.M.S. 155, 272–274 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939884

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939884

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