title: Enolase isoenzymes as tumour markers.
abstract: alpha- and gamma-enolase isoenzyme substance concentrations were measured in serum and plasma from healthy subjects and from 174 patients with different solid tumours. While alpha-enolase was found to be increased in the plasma of patients with tumours of quite different origin, gamma-enolase apparently reflected malignancies of the neuroendocrine system. Before the beginning of the cytotoxic therapy gamma-enolase was increased above the upper limit of the reference range (10 micrograms/l) in 27/27 patients (100%) suffering from small cell lung cancer. Most patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung or with prostatic cancer exhibited normal gamma-enolase, while both tumour types produced high plasma substance concentrations of the alpha-isoenzymes of enolase.
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D009380:Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue / Q000201:enzymology; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase