Tumor M2-pyruvate kinase in lung cancer patients: immunohistochemical detection and disease monitoring.
BACKGROUND
Lung cancer is one of the main causes for cancer death. A reliable diagnosis and follow-up of patients is important support for a successful therapy. The diagnostic efficiency of a new marker Tumor M2-pyruvate kinase (Tumor M2-PK) is evaluated.


METHODS
In this report immunohistochemical detection of pyruvate kinase M2 in tissue sections of lung cancer specimens is presented. Furthermore Tumor M2-PK was quantified in EDTA plasma of lung cancer patients in order to monitor the disease, especially under chemotherapy.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical detection of pyruvate kinase M2 in tissue sections of lung cancer specimens showed selective staining of tumor cells, independent of the histological classification of the tumor. In EDTA plasma of lung cancer patients, the marker concentrations correlated well with the tumor load during follow-up, showing significantly increasing concentrations with progressive tumor stages and decreased concentrations during tumor remission. Again, this effect was independent of the histological tumor type.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data indicate that Tumor M2-PK in EDTA-plasma could be a valuable tumor marker for monitoring lung cancer.
Schneider
Joachim
J
Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin, Justus-Liebig Universität, Giessen, Germany.
Neu
Kathleen
K
Grimm
Helmut
H
Velcovsky
Hans-Georg
HG
Weisse
Gunter
G
Eigenbrodt
Erich
E
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase