Tuberc Respir Dis.  1987 Dec;34(4):302-307. 10.4046/trd.1987.34.4.302.

Clinical Value of Serum Neuron Specific Enolase in Patients with Undifferentiated Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

• KMID: 2528636
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1987.34.4.302

Abstract

The usefulness of the serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) level for the diagnosis and evaluation of the therapeutic response was studied in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL). In this study, the NSE was determined by radioimmunoassay in 13 cases of SCCL, and also, for comparison, in 19 normal controls and in 51 cases of various lung cancer other than SCCL(non-SCCL) The mean of the serum NSE levels in patients with SCCL, particularly in those with extensive disease, was significantly higher than that in the controls or in those with non.SCCL. The NSE levels showed a significantly fall after chemotheraþy in those responded favorably, in contrast to an elevation in nonresponders. These facts suggest that the serum NSE level is a useful marker in patients with SCCL for the diagnosis, staging of the disease and monitoring the response to therapy.