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  • The metabolic marker tumour pyruvate kinase type M2 (tumour M2-PK) shows increased expression along the metaplasia–dysplasia–adenocarcinoma sequence in Barrett’s oesophagus

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Original article
The metabolic marker tumour pyruvate kinase type M2 (tumour M2-PK) shows increased expression along the metaplasia–dysplasia–adenocarcinoma sequence in Barrett’s oesophagus
  1. K Koss1,
  2. R F Harrison2,
  3. J Gregory3,
  4. S J Darnton4,
  5. M R Anderson2,
  6. J A Z Jankowski2
  1. 1Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK
  2. 2Digestive Diseases Centre, University Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Level 4, Windsor Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK
  3. 3Department of Pathology, The Medical School, University Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
  4. 4Department of Thoracic Surgery, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, B9 5SS, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr K Koss
 Digestive Diseases Centre, University Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Level 4, Windsor Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK; konradkossyahoo.com

Abstract

Background: Proliferating and tumour cells express the glycolytic isoenzyme, pyruvate kinase type M2 (M2-PK). In tumours cells, M2-PK usually exists in dimeric form (tumour M2-PK), causing the accumulation of glycolytic phosphometabolites, which allows cells to invade areas with low oxygen and glucose concentrations.

Aims: To investigate the expression of tumour M2-PK during the metaplasia–dysplasia–adenocarcinoma sequence of Barrett’s oesophagus, and to assess the prognostic usefulness of tumour M2-PK in oesophageal cancer.

Materials/Methods: One hundred and ninety cases selected from the histopathology archives as follows: 17 reflux oesophagitis, 37 Barrett’s oesophagus, 21 high grade dysplasia, 112 adenocarcinomas, and three control tumours. Sections were stained immunohistochemically with antibody to tumour M2-PK.

Results: Tumour M2-PK was expressed in all cases, and increased cytoplasmic expression was seen with progression along the metaplasia–dysplasia–adenocarcinoma sequence. All cases of adenocarcinoma showed 100% staining so that tumour M2-PK was not a useful prognostic marker.

Conclusions: Tumour M2-PK is not a specific marker of Barrett’s adenocarcinoma, but may be important as a marker of transformed and highly proliferating clones during progression along the metaplasia–dysplasia–adenocarcinoma sequence.

  • M2-PK, pyruvate kinase type M2
  • PK, pyruvate kinase
  • Barrett’s oesophagus
  • dysplasia
  • adenocarcinoma
  • pyruvate kinase type M2
  • tumour M2-PK

https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.2004.018150

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