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Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE)

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Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a tumor marker specific to neuroendocrine tumors of the APUD system. These tumors include:

  • Neuroblastoma
  • Retinoblastoma
  • Medullary thyroid cancer
  • Carcinoid tumors
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
  • Pancreatic islet cell carcinoma

Clinical Importance

  • NSE is the primary tumor marker for small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
  • In chemotherapy responders, NSE levels temporarily rise after the first treatment cycle due to tumor cell lysis.
  • A rapid decline in NSE levels to normal within a week indicates a good response to treatment.
  • If NSE levels remain elevated or decrease only slightly, the treatment response is poor.
  • During remission, 80–96% of patients have normal NSE levels, but levels increase again in cases of recurrence.

Additionally, NSE can be elevated in:

  • Stroke
  • Nervous system trauma
  • Benign brain tumors
  • Poor neurological prognosis in brain injury cases
  • Sample: Blood drawn from a vein.
  • Fasting for at least 4 hours before the test is required.
  • Patients taking high doses of biotin (≥5 mg/day) should wait at least 8 hours before testing.
  • Diagnosis and monitoring of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
  • Detection of neuroendocrine tumors

Important Considerations

  • Test results may vary depending on the method used.
  • Comparing results from different testing methods may lead to incorrect clinical interpretation.