TUM2-PK (pyruvate kinase type tumor M2), CA19-9 and CEA in patients with benign, malignant and metastasizing pancreatic lesions

The diagnostic value of the tumor marker pyruvate kinase type tumor M2 was evaluated in patients with benign, malignant and metastasizing pancreatic l esions and compared to the reference markers CA19-9 and CEA. This prospecti ve study comprised 166 individuals; 66 patients had various pancreatic path ologies (38 histologically proven pancreatic cancer, 28 benign pancreatic l esions such as pseudotumorous pancreatitis pseudocysts or pancreatic (cyst) adenoma) and 100 healthy blood donors served as controls. With a cut-off va lue of 28 U/ml (corresponding to a specificity of 90%) the sensitivity of T UM2-PK for pancreatic cancer las related to the control group) was 79% (CA1 9-9: 65%, CEA: 22%). There was a good correlation between the TUM2-PK level s and tumor metastasis (p < 0.001 for no versus distant metastasis, p=n.s. for CA19-9 and CEA). However, TUM2-PK was also elevated in 64.3% of the pat ients with benign pancreatic pathologies. In our study TUM2-PK had good dia gnostic qualities for pancreatic cancer and also showed better correlation to metastasis than CA19-9 and CEA.