title: Neuron-specific enolase as a prognostic factor in metastatic malignant melanoma.
abstract: Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was measured in 63 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. 20 patients (32%) had elevated serum NSE (> 10 micrograms/l) before the start of treatment. Another 13 patients (21%) developed pathological NSE values during the course of the disease. In many patients, elevated NSE was related to a large tumour burden, and a gradual rise in serum NSE indicated disease progression. Patients with elevated pretreatment NSE had a median survival time of 3 months compared with 12 months for those with normal pretreatment NSE values. NSE thus proved to be a useful prognostic factor in metastatic malignant melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Medicines Control Authority, Sven Oftedals vei, Oslo.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wibe
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hannisdal
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paus
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aamdal
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase