Immunohistochemical study of NSE in small cell lung cancer (SCLS) combined with serum assay.

Kwak, Seung Min; Kim, Hyung Jung; Shin, Dong Hwan; Jang, Joong Hyun; Lee, Hong Lyeol; Kim, Se Kyu; Ahn, Chul Min; Kim, Sung Kyu; Lee, Won Young; Lee, Kyi Beom

doi:1992.39.6.502

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 39(6); 1992 > Article

Original Article

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1992;39(6):502-510.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1992.39.6.502 Published online December 1, 1992.

Immunohistochemical study of NSE in small cell lung cancer (SCLS) combined with serum assay.

Seung Min Kwak¹, Hyung Jung Kim¹, Dong Hwan Shin², Joong Hyun Jang¹, Hong Lyeol Lee¹, Se Kyu Kim¹, Chul Min Ahn¹, Sung Kyu Kim¹, Won Young Lee¹, Kyi Beom Lee³

¹Department of lnternal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
³Department of Pathology, Aju University, College of Medicine, Suweon, Korea

Abstract

Background
Neuron specific enolase (NSE) is a neuronal form of the glycolytic enzyme enolase which was first found in extracts of brain tissue, and later in a variety of APUD cells and neurons of the diffuse endocrine system. SCLC shares many APUD properties with normal neuroendocrine cells. NSE immunostaining and serum NSE measurement may be a useful marker of neuroendocrine differentiation in lung tumors and diagnosis of small cell carcinoma.
Methods
NSE immunohistochemical! staining was done and at the same time serum NSE levels were measured in 22 small cell lung cancer and 21 non small cell lung cancer which were confirmed histologically.
Results
1) NSE immunoreactivity was detected in 9 of the 18 (50%) small cell lung cancer, in 5 of the 16 non small cell lung cancer. 2) Whereas the mean value in non-small cell lung cancer group was 1l .79±: 4.47ng/ ml, the mean level of serum NSE in small cell lung cancer increased up to 59.3± 77 .8 ng/ ml. In small cell lung cancer patients, mean value of limited disease group was 20. 19±12.91 ng/ ml, while mean value of extended disease group was 91. 9± 94.2 ng/ ml showing statistically significant difference. If serum levels above 20 ng/ ml were tentatively defined as positive, 16 of 22 (73%) patients with SCLC had positive serum NSE level , but only one patient with NSCLC did. There was no correlation between serum NSE level and immunoreactivity of NSE.
Conclusions
These studies indicate that serum NSE measurement may be a useful marker for the diagnosis and disease extent and NSE immunostaining can be used to demonstrate the neuroendocrine components of lung tumor.

Key Words: Neuron specific enolase, Small cell carcinoma, Neuroendocrine differentiation