Expression of Glycolytic Enzymes (GLUT1, HK-2, PKM2, LDH-A) and their association with Tumour Stage and Clinicopathological Characteristics in Prostate Cancer Patients

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated serum levels of glycolytic enzymes (GLUT1, HK-2, PKM2, LDH-A) in prostate cancer patients before and after treatment, compared with healthy controls, and assessed their diagnostic performance.

Methods: A longitudinal study enrolled 30 men with untreated stage II prostate cancer, the same 30 men after therapeutic intervention, and 60 healthy controls. Serum GLUT1, HK-2, PKM2, LDH-A, lactate, and fasting blood glucose were measured using ELISA and standard biochemical methods. One‑way ANOVA with post‑hoc tests compared groups; paired t‑tests compared pre‑ and post‑treatment values. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis evaluated diagnostic accuracy.

Results: All biomarkers were significantly elevated in pre‑treatment patients compared with post‑treatment and control groups (p < 0.0001). Pre‑treatment means were: GLUT1 1.93 ± 0.87 ng/mL, PKM2 250.7 ± 125.7 pg/mL, HK‑2 1715 ± 64 pg/mL, LDH‑A 1.276 ± 0.603 ng/mL. After treatment, levels declined significantly. GLUT1 showed the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.98, sensitivity 98.0%, specificity 93.0%), followed by LDH‑A (AUC = 0.97, sensitivity 91.6%, specificity 90.0%). PKM2 and HK‑2 had lower but significant AUCs (0.88 and 0.89, respectively).

Conclusion: Serum GLUT1 and LDH‑A are promising diagnostic and monitoring biomarkers for prostate cancer. Their decline after treatment suggests utility in assessing therapeutic response.