Pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (31-98) as a tumour marker of small-cell lung cancer: comparative evaluation with neuron-specific enolase.
We attempted to clarify whether serum levels of a carboxy-terminal fragment of ProGRP, ProGRP(31-98), could serve as a more accurate tumour marker in patients with SCLC than neuron-specific enolase (NSE). ProGRP(31-98) and NSE were measured retrospectively in 101 newly diagnosed untreated patients with SCLC, 111 with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 114 patients with non-malignant lung diseases. ProGRP(31-98) and NSE levels were determined using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sensitivity in SCLC patients was 72.3% for ProGRP(31-98) and 62.4% for NSE. Comparing the area under curve (AUC) of 'receiver operator characteristics' of ProGRP(31-98) with that of NSE, ProGRP(31-98) was the more powerful marker in the diagnosis of SCLC (P = 0.0001). Serum levels of ProGRP(31-98) were higher in the 40 patients with extensive disease than in the 61 patients with limited disease (P = 0.0082). ProGRP(31-98) was significantly higher in patients with pure small-cell carcinoma than in patients with mixed small-cell/large-cell carcinoma (P = 0.02). In serial measurement in 16 patients responding to treatment, a high degree of correlation was noted between the decrease in serum ProGRP(31-98) levels and clinical response during the second week after treatment (P = 0.0045). These results indicate that the determination of serum ProGRP(31-98) levels plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of SCLC patients.
Takada
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Prefectural Habikino Hospital, Japan.
Kusunoki
Y
Y
Masuda
N
N
Matui
K
K
Yana
T
T
Ushijima
S
S
Iida
K
K
Tamura
K
K
Komiya
T
T
Kawase
I
I
Kikui
N
N
Morino
H
H
Fukuoka
M
M
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D005755:Gastrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005755:Gastrins; D010455:Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase