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Differences in Initial NSE Levels in Malignant and Benign Diseases of the Thoracic Wall

BACKGROUND: Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is widely used to follow-up patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Since the NSE level can be influenced by a broad range of diseases and disorders a large study should be done to assess its level in various lung and non-lung tumors and benign diseases. METHODS: This research included 328 SCLC patients, 717 non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 50 other thoracic cancers such as tumors of the mediastinum and mesothelioma, 35 non-pulmonary cancers like esophagus, breast and stomach cancer, 205 benign diseases, and 37 healthy individuals. The serum level of NSE was measured at initial diagnosis prior to therapy using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA, Roche Diagnostics). RESULTS: The high levels of NSE in SCLC differed significantly from all other groups. The results imply very good sensitivity of NSE in SCLC and good discriminatory power of NSE between SCLC and NSCLC. CONCLUSIONS: The NSE level in SCLC differs significantly from all other tested groups (p < 0.01). The highest values are seen in SCLC extensive disease. ROC curves revealed good discriminatory power of the initial NSE levels separating SCLC from other lung lesions. NSE can be used as a diagnostic tool for the early recognition of the neuroendocrine component of lung tumors and follow-up of SCLC patients.

NSE; SCLC; NSCLC; tumor marker

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