title: The levels of three enolase subunits in human tumors; a low ?-/?-subunit ratio as indicator of tumors of neuronal and neuroendocrine nature.
abstract: The contents of three subunits (?, ? and ?) of enolase isoenzymes of various human tumors, especially of neuronal and neuroendocrine tumors, were determined by a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay system. A high level of ?-subunit was detected in neuronal and neuroendocrine tumors, including small cell carcinomas of the lung. The level of ?-subunit was generally higher in all tumors and varied according to the tumor. The ?-subunit level was elevated in rhabdomyosarcomas. Furthermore, analyzing the relationship between the contents of each enolase subunit among the tumors, the ?-/?-subunit ratios were the lowest in neuronal tumors and increased in order of neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine tumors. This result suggested that the ?-/?-subunit ratio is an important indicator to evaluate neuronal and neuroendocrine differentiation of the tumor rather than the amount of ?-subunit of enolase itself.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104 Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsumuraya
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimosato
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kameya