Thymidine kinase (TK) is a cellular enzyme involved in the incorporation of the nucleoside (basic building block of nucleic acid) thymidine into DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Its concentration is thus a measure of the division activity of cells.Since malignant diseases of the blood-forming and lymphatic systems in particular are characterized by high rates of cell division, the determination of thymidine kinase can be used as a tumor marker in these diseases.Tumor markers are substances produced naturally in the body by tumors and detectable in the blood. They can provide an indication of a malignant (malignant) neoplasm and are used as a follow-up test in cancer aftercare.
The procedure
Material needed
- Blood serum
Preparation of the patient
- Not necessary
Disruptive factors
- None known
Standard values
| Standard values in U/l | |
| Children | < 10 |
| Adults | < 5 |
Indications
- Suspected acute/chronic leukemia (blood cancer).
- Suspicion of Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- Therapy / progress control in the above-mentioned tumor disease or tumors with high cell turnover rate (proliferation).
Interpretation
Interpretation of increased values
- Leukemia (blood cancer)
- Hodgkin’s disease (lymphogranulomatosis) – cancer affecting the lymph nodes and lymphatic system, showing typical cells (Sternberg-Reed cells) in histological preparations
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – cancer affecting the lymph nodes and lymphatic system.
- Plasmocytoma (multiple myeloma) – malignant tumor disease from the group of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Its origin is in the lymphoid tissue, as in all lymphomas.
Interpretation of lowered values
- No diagnostic significance
Further notes
