Quantitative detection of Tumor M2-pyruvate kinase in plasma of patients with lung cancer in comparison to other lung diseases

Lung cancer is one of the predominant causes of cancer death. The aim of th is project is the development of a screening method in persons with high ri sk for developing lung cancer, based on the measurement of Tumor M2-pyruvat e kinase (Tumor M2-PK). Tumor M2-PK is quantitatively detectable in ethylen ediaminetetraacetic acid-plasma with a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorben t assay. So far, 60 patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer were included . These were compared to 24 patients with acute inflammatory lung diseases, 56 patients with pneumoconiosis, 22 patients with obstructive airway disea ses, and 28 healthy persons. Tumor patients and some individuals suffering from severe inflammatory lung diseases had significantly higher Tumor M2-PK concentrations in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-plasma than all the othe r groups. The histologic tumor type had no influence on the plasma levels o f Tumor M2-PK. Tumor M2-PK concentrations correlate strongly with the tumor stage, showing significantly increasing concentrations with progressive tu mor stages. The present data indicate that Tumor M2-PK could be a valuable tumor marker for the detection of lung cancer.