[Neuron-specific enolase (NSE)--a suitable tumor marker in malignant melanoma?]

The neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level is elevated in neurons and in numerous cells of the APUD system; melanocytes are also considered to belong to this system. In order to test the relevance of NSE as a tumour marker for malignant melanoma, its concentration in serum was radioimmunologically determined in 89 patients with melanomas: 24 in stage I (primary tumours), 44 in stage II (regional metastases), and 21 in stage III (distant metastases). The average (+/- coefficient of variation) concentrations recorded were 7.4 micrograms/l (+/- 46%) in patients in stage I, 5.8 micrograms/l (+/- 32%) in those in stage II, and 11.0 micrograms/l (+/- 72%) in those in stage III. A threshold value of 11.5 micrograms/l was exceeded in 9 cases, including 8 patients in stage III. Since definitely increased values arose almost exclusively in distant metastases, determination of NSE levels in serum is hardly a suitable tool for early detection of latent metastases.