AcSDKP: a new potential marker of malignancy of the thyroid gland

The tetrapeptide Acetyl-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro (AcSDKP) a physiologic inhibitor of stem-cell proliferation is also known for it's strong angiogenic activity. It has been shown that blood levels of this peptide are increased in some hematological malignancies. However, no data on the concentration of AcSDKP present in solid tumor tissue are available. The aim of our study was to measure tissue concentration of AcSDKP in benign and malignant lesions of the thyroid gland.

We assessed AcSDKP level in thyroid tissue specimens using enzyme immunoassay kit. The specimens were taken intraoperatively from 20 patients (17 women and 3 men aged 21-68 years): 10 patients with benign nodular goiter and 10 patients with papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland.

The obtained results show that tissue concentration of AcSDKP in malignant thyroid tumors is five times higher when compared to benign lessions.

We conclude that AcSDKP may play a role in the development of the thyroid gland lesions. However, the further investigations concerning the tetrapeptide concentration in other thyroid malignancies, toxic nodular, and Grave's goiter are required to conclude on the eventual use of AcSDKP as a marker of malignancy.