Tumour markers in neuroendocrine tumours

Most of the neuroendocrine tumours produce and secrete a large number of peptide hormones and amines. Each of these substances cause a specific clinical syndrome: carcinoid, Zollinger-Ellison, hyperglycaemic, glucagonoma and WDHA syndrome. Specific markers for these syndromes are basal and/or stimulated levels of: urinary-5-HIAA, serum or plasma gastrin, insulin, glucagon, and VIP, respectively. About 1/3 of neuroendocrine tumours belong to the so-called "non-functioning" tumours. Therefore, general markers such as chromogranin A, pancreatic polypeptide, serum neuronspecific enolase and subunit of glycoprotein hormones have been used for screening purposes in patients without distinct clinical hormone related syndromes. Among these general tumour markers chromogranin A, although its precise function is not yet established, has been shown to be a very sensitive and specific serum marker for various types of neuroendocrine tumours. This is because it may also be increased in many cases of less well differentiated tumours of neuroendocrine origin that do not secrete known hormones. Then chromogranin A is considered the best general neuroendocrine serum or plasma marker available at the moment and is increased in 50-100% of patients with various neuroendocrine tumours. Chromogranin A serum or plasma levels reflect tumour load and may be an independent marker of prognosis in patients with midgut carcinoids.