M.A. Thesis:

Study of pyruvate kinase M2 isoform in patients suffering colorectal cancer and comparing it with the normal.

Colorectal cancer is the third cause for cancer in the world, and after breast and lung cancers is the most common reason for death caused by a cancer. M2-PK tumor marker is an isoform from PK Glycolytic enzyme that appears in proliferating cancer cell and is a new marker to determine colorectal cancer. In this study, stool and plasma sample of 101 patients was taken before referring to colonoscopy section. After conducting the M2-PK experiment, it became evident that 68 were healthy, 12 were suffering polyps, and 21 were suffering colorectal cancer that was reassured by the pathology results of samples sent from colonoscopy section. To measure M2-PK enzyme, Biotech AG.SheBo ELISA kit was used; two different kits were used to measure plasma and stool. With 4uml Cutoff, sensitivity of M2-PK test was within normal group and 100% tumor with 66% specificity was calculated. And with 15uml Cutoff, sensitivity of M2-PKPlasma test was within normal group and 36% tumor and 55% specificity was estimated. Therefore, according to the obtained results in this study, high specificity and sensitivity of M2-PK test of stool and plasma for patients suffering colorectal cancer show that this test can be used as a non-invasive method and a diagnostic tool in determining the colorectal cancer.

Keywords: colorectal cancer, M2-PK enzyme, stool and plasma, Biotech AG.SheBo