Urine neuron-specific enolase and its clinical implication in patients with neuroblastoma

Urine levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were determined in 6 patients with neuroblastoma, in 72 controls and in 5 infants with hematuria by means of a double-antibody inhibition radioimmunoassay method. Urine levels (NSE ng/creatinine mg) in 2 patients with advanced neuroblastoma were elevated (3.03 +/- 0.28 (S.D.)), when compared with those of 4 patients with neuroblastoma in remission (0.65 +/- 0.26 (S.D.], 10 healthy neonates (1.26 +/- 0.42 (S.D.)), 25 healthy infants (0.51 +/- 0.26 (S.D.)), and 37 healthy adults (0.37 +/- 0.17 (S.D.)). Urine levels in 4 infants with microhematuria and an infant with macrohematuria were 1.62 +/- 0.10 (S.D.) and 33.83, respectively. Serial measurements in 3 patients with neuroblastoma receiving various therapies have revealed that there was a good correlation between urine NSE level and the response to therapy. These results indicate that NSE in urine may be a valuable marker for monitoring the effectiveness of therapy in patients with neuroblastoma.