Elevating PKM2 Expression Indicates a Biomarker of Poor Prognosis in Patients With Liver Cancer

Abstract

M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) plays an important role in reprogramming of cell metabolism which is a hall-marker of tumorigenesis. PKM2 expression altering is closely related to cancer metabolism and tumor growth. In the present study, we analyzed the role of PKM2 expression in liver cancer in order to clarify its potential application value in the diagnosis and prognosis of liver cancer patients. In cancerous liver tissues, the PKM2 expression was significantly higher than normal tissues. High PKM2 expressing was related to patient’s age, gender, histological type, grade, stage, T classification and poor survival. Patients with Higher PKM2 expression had a shorter OS (P = 0.0013) and RFS (P = 0.027). ROC and Multivariate Cox analysis showed that high PKM2expression was a risk factor for patients’ poor prognosis. GSEA identified mitotic spindle, PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling, notch signaling, apoptosis, G2M checkpoint and Wnt/β- Cantenin signaling were enriched with high PKM2 expression phenotype. These findings suggested PKM2 expression has potential as a predictive biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with liver cancer.