Clinical significance of the measurement of serum neuron-specific enolase levels in patients with lung cancer

Subjects were comprised of 100 healthy adults, 85 patients with primary lung cancer, 20 with benign lung disease and 4 with metastatic lung cancer. Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels were estimated by means of an NSE RIA kit produced by Eiken Radiopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The normal range of serum NSE level was between 4.5 and 10.30 (mean: 6.81) ng/ml in the 100 healthy adults. The serum NSE level in patients with small cell carcinoma was significantly higher than the mean in patients with other histological types. Positive rates of serum NSE levels were 80% in patients with small cell carcinoma, 54% in patients with adenocarcinoma, 52% in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and 1% in healthy adults, respectively. According to the progress of staging in lung cancer patients, serum NSE levels became increased. Serum NSE level seems to be specific marker in patients with small cell lung cancer and to be useful for diagnosis and the monitoring of cancer treatment.