Value of Serum Neuron-Specific Enolase in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer

To assess the prognostic value of pretreatment serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), levels were measured in 84 NSCLC patients, 40 healthy controls, and 20 patients with benign pulmonary diseases. NSE concentration was higher in NSCLC (11.7 + 10.8 ng/ml) (mean + SD; median = 9.7 ng/ml) than in the two control groups (p 15 ng/ml (70 vs, 47%; p