[Evaluation of neuron-specific enolase as a new tumor marker for carcinoma of the lung].

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) as a tumor marker for carcinoma of the lung was evaluated by immunostaining or enzyme immunoassay. NSE productions were immunocytochemically detected in most of small cell carcinoma and a few cases of other histological type of carcinoma. The data obtained in this study suggested that NSE is a marker for lung carcinoma which exhibit the properties of neuroendocrine tumors and is not a marker for histogenesis of small cell carcinoma of the lung. Serum NSE analysis is suggested to be useful for the evaluation of disease extent, monitoring the clinical course and prediction of sensitivity to cytotoxic treatments.