For Which Cancer Types can Neuron-Specific Enolase be Clinically Helpful in Turkish Patients?

Abstract

<strong>Background:</strong> The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levelsin patients with prostate cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, lung cancer and peripheral nerve tumors. Materials and<br /><strong>Methods</strong>: NSE levels were determined by ELISA in the sera of 100 prostate cancer, 47 Hodgkin lymphoma, 35lung cancer and 35 peripheral nerve tumor patients and also in 132 healthy controls. <br /><strong>Results</strong>: The median levelsof serum NSE were elevated in patients with lung cancer (p=0.018) and peripheral nerve tumors (p=0.008).NSE levels in prostate cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma patients were higher than the controls but there was nostatistically significant difference (p>0.05). <br /><strong>Conclusions</strong>: We conclude that NSE may be applied in routine togain insight about the clinical statuses of various cancer patients, but more studies are needed to determine theorgan specificity.