Pathology Update: TKTL-1



After many months, we have the pathology results from Germany. The following was found after analysis of the tumor tissue post-surgery. It's somewhat involved, but it explains why we saw such strange results with FDG and Ga-68 PET scans:

"Immunohistochemistry has been performed and revealed the following:
Proliferation rate (Ki-67 measured using MIB1 antibody) was 10-20% in both tumors (liver metastasis and primary tumor)."

"The liver metastasis did not express SSTR 2a (Somatostatin receptor Subtype 2a), and in 20 % of the cells a weak expression of SSTR 5."

"There was a strong expression of TKTL1 (the marker which is correlated with FDG uptake and aggressive behavior of tumors)."

"The primary tumor showed moderate expression of SSTR 2a and SSTR 5 in 80% of the cells and strong expression of TKTL1 in 70% of the cells."

"What is really remarkable in this case is the different expression of the neuroendocrine markers in the primary and the metastasis which indeed was shown already by the Ga-68 SMS-R and the F-18 FDG PET studies"

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