Neuron-specific enolase is an effective tumour marker in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
BACKGROUND
Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a well known marker of small cell lung cancer. The present study was designed to assess the clinical value of NSE in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as compared to that of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA).


METHODS
The study comprised 448 new consecutive NSCLC patients seen from 1996 to 2001. A set of 30 anthropometric, clinical, physical, laboratory, radiological, and pathological variables was prospectively recorded for all patients. Patients were carefully followed-up, and their subsequent clinical course recorded.


RESULTS
Increased values of NSE were present in 32% of the patients. Bivariate analyses showed that NSE, TPA and CEA were significantly correlated with each other, lactate dehydrogenase, tumour diameter, and disease extent. Univariate analyses showed that patients with elevated concentration of both NSE and TPA had significantly shorter survivals than patients with low values (30 [95% CI: 25-35] vs. 61 weeks [46-76], and 30 [CI: 24-36] vs. 59 weeks [40-79], respectively, P=0.0000). The Cox proportional hazards model including all the 22 variables significant in univariate analysis selected, in decreasing order of significance, the following variables: (1) N factor; (2) main treatment; (3) ECOG PS; (4) CNS metastasis; (5) age; (6) tumour cavitation; (7) NSE; (8) T factor; and (9) adrenal gland metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
This data indicates that serum assay of NSE is a useful marker also in NSCLC and a significant predictor of survival, independently of the other prognostic factors.
Ferrigno
Domenico
D
Cuneo Lung Cancer Study Group, Division of Respiratory Diseases, S. Croce e Carle General Hospital, I-12100 Cuneo, Italy. ferrigno@culcasg.org
Buccheri
Gianfranco
G
Giordano
Cristina
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen / Q000032:analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase