Evaluating the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum TuM2-PK, NSE, and ProGRP in small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum tumor M2-pyruvate kinase (TuM2-PK), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and progastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) levels in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). METHODS: The levels of serum TuM2-PK, NSE, and ProGRP in 102 patients with SCLC, 60 patients with benign lung disease (BLD), and 90 healthy controls were detected. RESULTS: The serum TuM2-PK, NSE, and ProGRP levels in the SCLC group were higher than those in BLD group (p < 0.05) and healthy control group (p < 0.05). The sensitivity of TuM2-PK, NSE, and ProGRP detection in SCLC was 82.35%, 60.78%, and 77.45% respectively, and specificity was 91.11%, 81.11%, and 86.67%, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of SCLC resulting from TuM2-PK was significantly better than that of NSE and ProGRP. The application of TuM2-PK combined with NSE and ProGRP improved the diagnostic yield of SCLC patients and had better diagnostic value than TuM2-PK alone. Univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that an elevated TuM2-PK level was an independent prognostic factor for shorter survival in SCLC. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that TuM2-PK levels in the serum could be an effective biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of SCLC.