Serum thymidine kinase 1 protein concentration for predicting early progression and monitoring the response to TACE in hepatocellular carcinomas: a network meta-analysis

Hongbo Ma; Ailian Hei; Ji Zhou; Ellen He; Sven Skog; Jin Li

doi:10.2144/fsoa-2021-0016

Serum thymidine kinase 1 protein concentration for predicting early progression and monitoring the response to TACE in hepatocellular carcinomas: a network meta-analysis

Future Sci OA. 2021 May 21;7(7):FSO717. doi: 10.2144/fsoa-2021-0016. eCollection 2021 Aug.

Authors

Hongbo Ma¹, Ailian Hei¹, Ji Zhou¹, Ellen He¹, Sven Skog¹, Jin Li¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Medicine, Shenzhen SSTK Precision Medicine Institute, A301, Bulding 1, 2nd Yinxingzhijie, 1301-76 Guanguang Road, Longhua District, Shenzhen, China.

Abstract

Aim: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the clinical significance of serum thymidine kinase 1 protein concentration (STK1p) in distinguishing between hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and non-HCC for predicting early progression and monitoring the response to transarterial chemoembolization in HCC.

Materials & methods: A total of 24 eligible studies were included, containing 1849 HCC patients and 1069 healthy subjects.

Results: The STK1p level significantly increased from normal controls to benign/pre-HCC and HCC (p < 0.0001). STK1p also increased significantly in sub-malignant groups: control being the lowest, followed consecutively by hepatic hemangioma, hepatitis B virus infection and hepatic cirrhosis (p < 0.05). After 1 month of transarterial chemoembolization treatment, STK1p level declined significantly, by 44.4% (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: STK1p is a useful prognostic biomarker in HCC.

Keywords: HCC; NMA; STK1p; TACE; TK1; pre-HCC.