Clinical value of plasma tumor type M2 pyruvate kinase determination in patients with gastrointestinal cancer

Objective To evaluate the plasma tumor M2 pyruvate kinase(TU M2-PK) as a biomarker in gastrointestinal cancer. Methods The levels of TU M2-PK in 106 patients with gastrointestinal cancer,20 patients with benign gastrointestinal disease and 40 healthy controls was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the results were compared with those of the carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigen 72-4(CA72-4) and carbohydrate antigen 50(CA50).Results The levels of TU M2-PK in patients with gastrointestinal cancer was significantly higher than that in controls(P0.01).The cutoff value was established at 15 U/mL for TU M2-PK,the sensitivity and specificity were 67.0% and 78.3%,respectively.With the progression of carcinoma,the level of TU M2-PK was increased significantly.The level of TU M2-PK in patient with lymph node metastasis was higher than those in patient without metastasis(P0.05).Combined determination of TU M2-PK with CEA,CA72-4 and CA50 increased the diagnostic sensitivity of gastrointestinal cancer.Conclusions TU M2-PK is a valuable tumor marker of gastrointestinal cancer for the diagnosis,monitoring and prognosis of the desease.