236 – Pre-SCT Panel + B12 + Folate

Minimum Frozen Serum Requirement: 1mL

Background:

Stem Cell Therapy (SCT) is an increasingly common choice for treating degenerative joint diseases like osteoarthritis.  Prior to administering SCT, patients should be free from cancer as giving stem cells to cancer is like adding fuel to the fire.  The Pre-Stem Cell Therapy Panel is designed to ensure the patient is cancer free prior to therapy and give the green light to proceed.  Unifying a blood marker of abnormal cell proliferation, Thymidine Kinase Type 1 (TK1), and inflammatory marker CRP into the Neoplasia Index­, the Pre-Stem Cell Therapy Panel is a rule-in/rule-out for cancer.

The inclusion of a Hyaluronic Acid (HA) test gives a baseline prior to treatment to see how joint status changes after therapy.  Vitamin D is a critical hormone for cellular differentiation. Ensuring patient is Vitamin D sufficient may impact the success of therapy.

Vitamin B12 & Folate are essential vitamins that play a role in DNA & RNA synthesis.  B12 deficiency can cause errors in that process which may cause TK1 to elevate.  VDI provides patient-specific dosing guidelines to correct B12 deficiency.

Clinical Applications:

1. Patients intending to have Stem Cell Therapy

Recommendations:

The Pre-Stem Cell Therapy Panel should be performed prior to administration of steroids, chemo, NSAIDs or other therapy whenever possible.  VDI can interpret results around the presence of therapy, but please be sure to indicate on the Test Requisition Form any medications at the time of draw.

Contact VDI for consultation on any case to determine the best repeat test window.