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Serum neuron specific enolase: Can it be a tumour marker for renal cell carcinoma?

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Abstract

Neuron specific enolase (NSE) is an isoenzyme of the glycolytic enzyme enolase. It is not only a marker for all types of neurons but also for all neuroendocrine or paraneuronal cells and various malignant tumours, even of non-neuroendocrine types.

We had studied serum NSE in 25 consecutive patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The study included 10 stage I, 3 stage II, 3 stage III-B and 9 stage IV-B patients. Both pretreatment and posttreatment levels were evaluated. Regardless of stage, overall we observed elevated levels of NSE in 80% (20/25) at diagnosis. After the appropriate treatment, according to the stage, there had been a statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in the serum levels in all stage I, II and III-B patients. The posttreatment values were not available for stage IV-B patients because they did not come for follow-up.

The preliminary results of our study revealed that serum NSE may be considered as a useful marker in the evaluation and surveillance of RCC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Ö. Yaman, S. Baltaci, N. Arikan, E. Özdiler, O. Göĝüş & Y. Z. Müftüoĝlu

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  1. Ö. Yaman
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  2. S. Baltaci
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  3. N. Arikan
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  4. E. Özdiler
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  5. O. Göĝüş
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  6. Y. Z. Müftüoĝlu
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Yaman, Ö., Baltaci, S., Arikan, N. et al. Serum neuron specific enolase: Can it be a tumour marker for renal cell carcinoma?. International Urology and Nephrology 28, 207–210 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02550862

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02550862

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