Objective To evaluate application value of
plasma tumor type M2
pyruvate kinase (TU M2-PK) in the
treatment effect
monitoring in
breast cancer.
Methods TU M2-PK was determined by
ELISA in
breast cancer patients (n = 63 ), benign
breast disease patients (n = 22 ) and
health controls (n = 40).The receiver operation characteristic (ROC)
analysis was performed as compared with CA15-3 and CEA. Results
ROC analysis showed the cut-off was set at 14. 1 U/ml for TU M2-PK (
sensitivity 46. 0% ;
specificity 86. 0% ), and the
diagnosis efficacy of TU M2-PK was higher than CA15-3 and CEA. The level of TU M2-PK was significantly higher in
breast cancer patients (13. 3 U/ml) than that in
health controls (7. 2 U/ml, U = 408. 5, P < 0. 05 ) and in benign
breast disease patients ( 11.1 U/ml, U = 509.0,P < 0. 05 ). With the progression of
breast carcinoma, the level of TU M2-PK as well as the positivity was increased. TU M2-PK concentration was higher in
patients with
lymph node metastasis (23. 3 U/ml ) than those without
metastasis ( 10. 9 U/ml, U = 237. 0, P < 0. 01 ). The level of TU M2-PK correlated with
therapy response. An elevated level of TU M2-PK was found preclinically in recurrent
disease patients, and the levels decreased in the
patients, which showed sensitive to
chemotherapy. The TU M2-PK level was kept at baseline in
patients with stable
disease. Conclusion TU M2-PK is helpful in the
diagnosis of
breast cancer, and it is a valuable
tumor marker for
disease monitoring,
therapy control and
prognosis evaluation in
breast cancer.