[Clinical investigation of neuron-specific enolase, squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen and carcinoembryonic antigen in carcinoma of the lung].

Serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen (SCC antigen) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were measured in 53 untreated patients with carcinoma of the lung. The positive rates of serum NSE were 17.0% in all patients with lung cancer, 53.8% in small cell carcinoma, 6.7% in adenocarcinoma, 5.0% in squamous cell carcinoma and 0% in large cell carcinoma; 0% in stage I, 14.3% in stage III and 26.7% in stage IV. The positive rates of serum SCC antigen were 45.3% overall, 70.0% in squamous cell carcinoma, 40.0% in adenocarcinoma, 23.1% in small cell carcinoma and 0% in large cell carcinoma; 42.9% in stage I, 57.1% in stage III and 46.7% in stage IV. In comparison with serum CEA, serum NSE and SCC antigen were much more specific in small cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, respectively. Moreover, serum levels of NSE and SCC antigen changed in parallel with the clinical course during the treatments. In conclusion, serum NSE and SCC antigen were considered to be very useful markers of lung cancer, especially of small cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, respectively.