Comparative prognostic value of neuron-specific enolase, carcinoembryonic antigen and lactate dehydrogenase in small-cell lung cancer patients

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic significance of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Methods: A total of 46 histologically proven and unresectable SCLC patients were included. NSE, CEA, LDH and other laboratory variables were tested before therapy. Results: LDH was elevated in 30.4% of the patients, CEA in 42.9%, NSE in 48.3%. among them LDH and CEA were significantly higher when the disease was considered extensive than when it was limited. The univariate analysis showed that patients whose NSE is greater than 12 ng/ml, LDH is greater than 1 (ratio of this value to the upper limit) had a significant shorter survival in comparison with the opposite status of each variables. The multivariate survival analysis showed that NSE was a more important prognostic factor than LDH and CEA. Conclusion: NSE is a independent prognostic factor for small-cell lung cancer. (authors)