Neurone specific enolase: an aid to the diagnosis of melanoma and neuroblastoma.

Melanoma and neuroblastoma are diagnosed by their clinical and histological features, including evidence of melanogenesis and neural differentiation respectively, by tumour cells. These criteria are occasionally inadequate. Melanoma and neuroblastoma are derived from a system of cells characterized by the content, precursor uptake and decarboxylation of particular amines (APUD cells). Neurone specific enolase (NSE) has been proposed as a specific marker for neural elements and APUD cells. Immunohistochemical cytoplasmic and fibrillary localization of this enzyme was demonstrated in formalin-fixed, paraffin-processed sections of melanoma and neuroblastoma, constituting and additional aid to the identification of these tumours. The demonstration of an enzyme of the glycolytic pathway within tumour cells has implications following the effects of anti-tumour agents and these are discussed.