title: Serum neuron-specific enolase as a marker of small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
abstract: We monitored the changes in serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level in two patients with esophageal small-cell carcinoma (SCC) during the course of treatment by chemotherapy or surgery, with radiation. Serum NSE levels at diagnosis were 18.5 and 58.0 ng/ml. In both cases, after treatment the serum NSE level decreased to within normal range (less than 10.0 ng/ml), concurrent with reduction in the size of the tumor. However, with relapse of the disease, the serum NSE increased to 24.3 and 200.0 ng/ml, respectively. One patient died of lung and skin metastases 4 months after surgery; the other, who developed brain metastasis, was treated again with chemotherapy by the same regimen. The serum NSE level decreased to 13.0 ng/ml, and the symptoms improved. These results indicate that there is a correlation between serum NSE level and remission or relapse of the disease after treatment in patients with SCC of the esophagus, as with SCC of the lung.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasajima
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takubo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005047:Etoposide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D002945:Cisplatin