J Korean Soc Ther Radiol.  1994 Feb;12(1):73-80.

The Radiotherapeutic Significance of Serum NSE Level in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers (NSCLC)

• Yun SM
• Kim SB
• Park IK
• Jung TH

Abstract

From December 1989 to February 1993, 108 patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers(NSCLC) were studied retrospectively to evaluate radiotherapeutic significance of serum levels of NSE. We considered elevated serum neuron specific pathologic evaluation revealed 86 squamous cell carcinomas, 11 adenocarcinomas, 3 large cell carcinomas, 3 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, and 5 unknown pathology. Eight patients had stageI, 40 stage III A, and 60 stageIII B. S-NSE level greater than 15 ng/ml was considered as elevated, and below this considered as normal. All patients received radiotherapy as primary treatment modality. The responders to radiotherapy had significantly higher mean S-NSE level than on-responders (28.5 ng/ml vs 20 ng/ml, p=0.01). Overall 2-year survival rate (YSR) was 23.6%. According to radiotherapy response, 2 YSR for patients with CR, PR, and NR were 39.2%, 28.6%, and 6.2% respectively (p=0.001). 2 YSR for patients with elevated and normal S-NSE were 14.6% and 31.7%(p=0.02). The patients with NR showed no difference in survival according to S-NSE level. When we considered all patients, S-NSE level showed no significant impact on response. But for squamous cell cardinomas alone, patients with elevated S-NSE had more patients with higher nodal stage. Based on our and other data, NSCLSC with neuroendocrine features have different response to treatment and clinical behavior compared to other NSCLSC. Thus, this subgroup may need different treatment modality, and S-NSE level may have prognostic significance.

Keyword

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers; Neuron-specific enolase; Radiotherapy

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Carcinoma, Large Cell
Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Humans
Lung Neoplasms*
Lung*
Neurons
Pathology
Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
Radiotherapy
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate
Phosphopyruvate Hydratase