title: Macrocreatine kinase type 2 in the serum of patients with tumors and with nonmalignant colonic diseases.
abstract: The macrocreatine kinase type 2 isoenzyme (MCK-2) was investigated as a marker for colonic cancer. It was sought in 252 serum samples from 231 patients: 69 with active colonic cancer, 49 in whom colonic cancer had been successfully resected, 58 with nonmalignant diseases of the colon, and 76 patients immediately following colonic surgery. MCK-2 was detected in the serum of 39 of the patients with cancer (57%) and in one patient with diverticulitis. MCK-2 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were both measured in 47 colonic cancer patients. Both markers were detected in 19 cases, MCK-2 alone in eight and CEA alone in eight. We conclude that MCK-2 is a promising tumor marker for carcinoma of the colon and that its value might be complementary to that of CEA.
mesh_terms: D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D003402:Creatine Kinase