title: Combined measurements of neuron specific enolase and bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide in lung cancer.
abstract: Pretreatment serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) and plasma bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide (BN/GRP) were measured in 92 lung cancer patients and 17 controls. The mean level of NSE (p less than 0.001) and BN/GRP (p less than 0.05) was significantly raised in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC, n = 62) compared to non-SCLC (n = 30) and controls. The mean concentration of NSE in extensive SCLC was significantly greater (p less than 0.005) than in limited stage but with a substantial overlap of values. Forty-seven out of 62 SCLC patients had at least one of the two markers raised (sensitivity 76%, specificity 83%), 44 had raised NSE (sensitivity 71%, specificity 89%) but only 24 had BN/GRP raised (sensitivity 42%, specificity 91%). At restaging, 16 of 19 patients with SCLC responsive to chemotherapy showed a significant fall of NSE; on the other hand, BN/GRP fell significantly in only 3 patients, remaining unchanged in the majority of responding patients. In conclusion, the combined determination of NSE and BN/GRP in SCLC, at diagnosis and during the follow-up, was not found to be superior to NSE determination alone.
authors.affiliation: University of Turin, Pulmonary Diseases Department, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Scagliotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gozzelino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albera
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pozzi
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001839:Bombesin / Q000097:blood*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010455:Peptides; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D001839:Bombesin