Neuron specific enolase in lung cancer and children’s tumours

Abstract

Enolase is a glycolytic enzyme that is composed of three types of subunits α, β and γ. Enolase is found mainly in muscle. The α isozyme, called non-neuronal enolase (NNE) is present in most adult tissues. The γ form is a marker for neurons in the central and peripheral nervous tissue, it has been called neuron specific enolase (NSE) (12). NSE is present in the neuroendocrine cells of the amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation system (APUD) (12). NSE has become of interest as a marker in oncology as increased levels of serum NSE have been observed in a wide variety of tumours of neuroendocrine origin including pancreatic islet cell tumours, carcinoid tumours, medullary thyroid carcinoma (13). Whilst these examples of APUDomas are rare, other tumours of neuroendocrine origin such as small cell lung cancer (SCLC), in adults form 20% of lung cancers. Among children’s cancers, neuroblastoma, a typical member of the APUDomas, stands out as important especially as chemotherapy can offer a chance of cure.