Abstract
Plasma and serum NSE was studied in order to evaluate its clinical significance as a tumor marker of lung cancer. Plasma NSE was measured in 885 normal subjects as a normal control, 96 patients without neoplasms of neuronal diseases as a patient control and 44 patients with lung cancers. In addition, serum NSE was measured in 150 patients without neoplasms or neuronal diseases and 24 lung cancer patients. NSE was quantified by a double antibody radioimmunoassay.
NSE concentration of plasma from 885 normal subjects, plasma from 96 patient controls and serum from 150 patient controls were 5.40±2.20ng/ml, 5.43±2.53ng/ml and 4.96±1.19ng/ml (mean±S. D.), respectively. Based on these results, NSE levels exceeding 10.0ng/ml were tentatively defined as positive.
NSE concentration of plasma from 44 patients and serum from 24 lung cancer patients were 32.2±23.0ng/ml and 7.63±4.88g/ml. The positive rate of plasma NSE was 92.3% and that of serum NSE was 16.7%. Changes in the plasma NSE level was associated with the clinical course during treatment.
The reason why the NSE levels in the patients with lung carcinoma are higher in plasma than in serum is unclear. However, since NSE levels are higher in plasma (EDTA-2Na) than in plasma (heparin), we think that the stability of the antigen structure of NSE may be affected by EDTA-2Na.
In conclusion, plasma NSE may be a useful marker for monitoring the clinical status of lung cancer.
