Neuron - specific enolase predicts the prognosis in advanced small cell lung cancer patients treated with first-line PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors

Neuron-Specific Enolase-What Are We Measuring?

Since the discovery of the neuron-specific protein by Moore and McGregor in 1965, tens of thousands of studies have investigated the basic and applied significance of neuron-specific enolase (NSE). This promising biomarker, according to many researchers, has not found widespread use in clinical practice, particularly in acute cerebrovascular accidents. Moreover, the several studies refuting the usefulness of serum NSE measurement in critically ill patients leads us to consider the reasons for such contradictory conclusions. In this article, we have analyzed the main directions in the study of NSE and expressed our perspective on the reasons for the contradictory results and the difficulties in implementing the results of these studies in clinical practice. In our opinion, the method of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) used in the majority of the studies is inappropriate for the evaluation of NSE as a marker of central nervous system damage, because it does not allow for the differentiation of heterodimers of enolases and the assessment of the enzymatic activity of this group of enzymatic proteins. Therefore, the methodological approach for the evaluation of NSE (γγ-enolase) as a biomarker needs to be elaborated and improved. Furthermore, the specificity of the applied research methods and the appropriateness of the continued use of the term "neuron-specific enolase" must be addressed.

Serum tumor markers for response prediction and monitoring of advanced lung cancer: A review focusing on immunotherapy and targeted therapies

BACKGROUND

The value of serum tumor markers (STMs) in the current therapeutic landscape of lung cancer is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review gathered evidence of the predictive, prognostic, and monitoring value of STMs for patients with advanced lung cancer receiving immunotherapy (IT) or targeted therapy (TT).

METHODS

Literature searches were conducted (cut-off: May 2022) using PubMed and Cochrane CENTRAL databases. Medical professionals advised on the search strategies.

RESULTS

Study heterogeneity limited the evidence and inferences from the 36 publications reviewed. While increased baseline levels of serum cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen (CYFRA21-1) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) may predict IT response, results for TT were less clear. For monitoring IT-treated patients, STM panels (including CYFRA21-1, CEA, and neuron-specific enolase) may surpass the power of single analyses to predict non-response. CYFRA21-1 measurement could aid in monitoring TT-treated patients, but the value of CEA in this context requires further investigation. Overall, baseline and dynamic changes in individual or combined STM levels have potential utility to predict treatment outcome and for monitoring of patients with advanced lung cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

In advanced lung cancer, STMs provide additional relevant clinical information by predicting treatment outcome, but further standardization and validation is warranted.

Assessment of Specific Tumoral Markers, Inflammatory Status, and Vitamin D Metabolism before and after the First Chemotherapy Cycle in Patients with Lung Cancer

Background: We aimed to investigate the changes of inflammatory status reflected by serum levels of chitotriosidase (CHT) and neopterin, and how specific tumor markers such as neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA), as well as vitamin D metabolism assessed by vitamin D receptor (VDR) and 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25OHD3), were modified after the first cycle of chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer. Methods: We performed this first pilot study on twenty patients diagnosed with lung cancer by investigating the serum concentrations of CHT, neopterin, NSE, SCCA, VDR and 25OHD3 before and after the first cycle of chemotherapy. Results: The post-treatment values of NSE were significantly lower compared to the pre-treatment levels (14.37 vs. 17.10 ng/mL, p = 0.031). We noticed a similar trend in neopterin levels, but the difference was only marginally significant (1.44 vs. 1.17 ng/mL, p = 0.069). On the contrary, the variations of circulating SCCA, CHT, neopterin, VDR and 25OHD3, before and after treatment, did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Only circulating NSE was treatment responsive to the first chemotherapy cycle in patients with lung cancer, while inflammatory markers and vitamin D status were not significantly modified.

Serum NSE is Early Marker of Transformed Neuroendocrine Tumor After EGFR-TKI Treatment of Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

Transformation to a lung neuroendocrine tumor (LNET) is a mechanism of resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a useful marker in the detection of LNET. Therefore, we explored the clinical significance of serum NSE levels in the detection of transformed neuroendocrine tumors after EGFR-TKI therapy.

Methods

We report a cohort of 5 cases in our treatment group. The characteristics of the patients, pathological diagnoses, immunohistochemistry with molecular detection, laboratory examination, and treatment histories are analyzed. The tumor markers of serum NSE were analyzed. Additionally, we reviewed the publications reporting the tumor markers before and after LNET transformation during EGFR-TKI therapy.

Results

Most patients are female (3/5), aged <60 years old (4/5), nonsmokers (4/5) and harbor the EGFR 19 exon deletion (4/5). The median time of LNET transformation was 19 months (range: 12–31 months). The clinical characteristics were similar to those reported in previous studies. Laboratory examination revealed an increased NSE level before the LNET is defined. Sixteen publications were reviewed. Of those, 86.67% (13/15) publications showed an increased level of NSE when the LNET transformation was defined.

Conclusion

Adenocarcinoma tumors in non-smokers, young patients harboring the EGFR 19 exon deletion tended to transform to LNETs after EGFR-TKI therapy. Combining our findings and a review of the literature, we suggest that serum NSE may be a useful tumor marker to predict neuroendocrine tumor transformation.