title: [Role of the cut-off value of serum neuron-specific enolase in differentiating small cell lung cancer from non-small cell lung cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the cut-off value of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level for distinguishing small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum NSE levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 137 patients with NSCLC or SCLC, and the best cut-off value was analyzed using ROC curve.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positivity rate of serum NSE was significantly higher in patients with SCLC than in those with NSCLC (P<0.01). The best cut-off value was 15.45 microg/L using ROC curve, which gave a sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 65.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum NSE level may allow simple and cost-effective differentiation of SCLC and NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Center of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. weitaochina@163.com
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Rong-cheng
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Jun-yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing-xia
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Hui-fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase