Tumor M2-pyruvate kinase: A promising tumor marker in the diagnosis of gastro-intestinal cancer

The diagnostic value of pyruvate-kinase type tumor M2 (Tumor M2-PK) has bee n investigated in different tumors, and showed interesting results in cases of renal cancer pancreatic cancer, lung cancer and some cases of gastric c ancer. In this study we investigated EDTA-plasma of 68 patients with gastro intestinal cancer, 22 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and 60 healthy controls. Sensitivity of Tumor M2-PK was 70,6% for all GI-tumors, that of CA19-9 was 55.4% and that of CEA was 53.3%. In pancreatic cancer CA 19-9 showed the best sensitivity. In oesophageal/gastric cancer Tumor M2-PK was most sensitive and in colorectal cancer CEA and Tumor M2-PK showed the best results. The specificity of Tumor M2-PK was 90-96,7%. In IBD some ind ividuals showed elevated Tumor M2-PK levels but there was no correlation to CRP or to the clinical activity score. The results indicated that Tumor M2 -PK might be a valuable marker in gastrointestinal cancer.