TK1 as a Biomarker of Chemosensitivity and Metastatic Potential in Breast Tumors

Authors

Eric Olsen, Brigham Young University
Kim O'Neill, Brigham Young University

Keywords

TK1, chemosensitivity, metastatic, breast tumors

College

Life Sciences

Department

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, accounting for 23% of total cancer cases and 14% of cancer deaths. Breast carcinoma is not a simple disease. It is comprised of many different biological forms with distinct phenotypes and prognoses. Hormone receptor expression, such as ER, PR, and HER2, along with more universal clinical manifestations like pathological stage, grade, and lymph node invasion are often used for patient prognosis. The heterogeneous nature of breast tumors makes prognosis and response to therapies difficult to determine, and further research is needed to classify breast tumors and their response to traditional therapies.

This study documents the potential of Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) to be utilized as a marker of malignant potential and sensitivity to chemotherapies in breast cancers. TK1 is an enzyme active during the S phase of the cell cycle that contributes to DNA synthesis, and is thought to contribute to a high proliferative potential in cancerous cells.

Recommended Citation

Olsen, Eric and O'Neill, Kim (2019) "TK1 as a Biomarker of Chemosensitivity and Metastatic Potential in Breast Tumors," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2019: Iss. 2019, Article 116.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2019/iss2019/116