The lack of evidence for correlation of pyruvate kinase M2 expression with tumor grade in non-small cell lung cancer

Anticancer Res. 2014 Jul;34(7):3811-7.

Abstract

Background: Over the last years, evidence has accumulated that an increased expression of pyruvate kinase M2 isozyme (PKM2) is related to neoplastic transformation as well that its plasma concentrations might be a marker of lung cancer progression.

Materials and methods: In the present manuscript an immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of two pyruvate kinase isoforms: PKM1 (muscle isozyme of PK) and PKM2 as well Ki-67 antigen on paraffin sections of 218 cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of different histological types and grades of malignancy.

Results: A significant correlation between expressions of both pyruvate kinase isoforms in all NSCLC types was found (r=0.42, p<0.0001). Expression levels of PKM1 and PKM2 were independent of the histological classification of the tumor and patients' clinicopathological data.

Conclusions: PKM2 and PKM1 have no value as predictive markers of NSCLC regardless of the histological type and grade of malignancy.

Keywords: Non-small cell lung cancer; immunohistochemistry; pyruvate kinase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / biosynthesis
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / enzymology*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology*
  • Carrier Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Cytoplasm / enzymology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Ki-67 Antigen / biosynthesis
  • Lung Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Paraffin Embedding
  • Prognosis
  • Thyroid Hormone-Binding Proteins
  • Thyroid Hormones / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Thyroid Hormones