[Gamma-enolase (gamma-eno)].

Enolase catalyzes the interconversion of 2-phosphoglycelate and phosphoenolpyruvate in the glycolytic pathway. Enolase isozymes are dimers formed from three subunits (alpha, beta, and gamma). The gamma subunit, containing enolase (gamma-enolase) in serum, is important in the diagnosis of tumors originating from APUD (amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation) cells, like neuroblastoma, small cell carcinoma for the lung and certain carcinomas of the thyroid, the pancreas and the gut. Therefore, the determination of serum gamma-enolase levels is useful as a tumor marker of these neoplasms. On the other hand, raised gamma-enolase levels in cerebrospinal fluid have been demonstrated in patients suffering from various neurological disorders. In this paper, the author reviews the results of some of many studies related to gamma-enolase, up to now.