Tumor marker pyruvate kinase type tumor M2 in patients suffering from diabetic nephropathy
Oremek, G.M.; Rutner, F.; Sapoutzis, N.; Sauer-Eppel, H.
Anticancer Research 23(2a): 1155-1158
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 12820364 Document Number: 554813
Introduction: Compared to normal tissues all tumors investigated so far and especially those with a metastatic potential overexpress an isoenzyme of the pyruvate kinase, the pyruvate kinase type tumor M2 (TU M2-PK). Because of its monomeric structure, the TU M2-PK has no function at all. Patients and Methods: Using an enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) developed by ScheBo(R)oTech (Wettenberg, Germany) we measured the concentration of TU M2-PK in EDTA-plasma of 12 probands with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 91 patients suffering from non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, both with diabetic nephropathy. Moreover we focused on the way it compares to other metabolic markers such as HbA1c, glucose and proteins. Results: Among the 12 patients afflicted by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus 17%, and the 91 probands with non-insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus as many as 19% of the samples were raised over the cut-off of 25 U/ml EDTA-plasma. A correlation with the other investigated parameters could not be found. Conclusion: This study shows that the TU M2-PK in EDTA-plasma of patients with diabetic nephropathy presents 38.8% "false-positive" data and thus must be questioned as a tumor marker.