M. Vandepol et al., NEURON-SPECIFIC ENOLASE AS A MARKER OF BRAIN METASTASIS IN PATIENTS WITH SMALL-CELL LUNG-CARCINOMA, Journal of neuro-oncology, 19(2), 1994, pp. 149-154
Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is one of the iso-forms of enolase, a gl
ycolytic enzyme found in the neuroendocrine system. NSE is one of the
most widely used tumor markers in small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). To
assess the value of NSE in discriminating between the sites of metast
ases in SCLC-patients with and without cerebral involvement, serial NS
E determinations were performed. Serum NSE was elevated in 76% of the
patients at initial diagnosis. The value did not discriminate between
the extent of disease nor between the sites of extrathoracic disease.
NSE levels declined significantly at restaging. A persistent, signific
ant rise occurred in patients with relapse of their disease, regardles
s of the site of relapse. In patients with brain metastases with and w
ithout extracranial disease at relapse, the NSE increase was significa
ntly smaller than in patients without intracranial involvement. These
findings indicate that serial determination of serum NSE in SCLC-patie
nts may be useful in monitoring tumor activity but not in predicting t
he site of metastatic disease.