Aims: In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the usefulness of serum thymidine kinase 1 concentration (STK1c) for monitoring the outcome of extensive open surgery in patients with lung cancer. We also compared STK1c between a healthy population and patients with benign and malignant lung tumors to assess its potential value for early detection of lung cancer and for distinguishing between benign lung disease and malignant cancer.
Materials and methods: Related studies were retrieved from publications in PubMed, Cochrane, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang databases, and Internet searches. Correlation was evaluated using weighted mean difference. Fixed or random effect models were selected for data analyses based on heterogeneity tested with the chi-square test. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's test.
Results: Twenty studies were selected for analysis, which showed that STK1c was significantly (p < 0.00001) reduced by 41.7% 1 month after extensive open surgery, approximately corresponding to an STK1c half-life of 1 month. STK1c levels were significantly higher in lung cancer patients than in healthy persons (p < 0.00001) or in patients with benign lung disease (p < 0.00001). There was also a significant difference in STK1c between patients with benign and malignant lung disease (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions: The half-life of STK1c may be an important tool in the clinical evaluation of surgical response in patients with lung cancer. STK1c may also be beneficial in the early detection of lung cancer.
Keywords: TK1 half-life; extensive open surgery; lung cancer; meta-analysis; thymidine kinase 1.