Progastrin-releasing peptide (proGRP) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) in survival prognosis in patients with small cell lung cancer

Introduction. Small cell lung cancer (SCLS) is a highly aggressive type of tumor, and various compounds are considered as potential biochemical markers of its prognosis, including neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A (CgA), and prograstrin releasing peptide (proGRP). The aim of the study. Analysis of basal serum concentrations of biochemical markers proGRP, NSE, and CgA association with the prognosis of progression-free survival in patients with SCLC. Methods. 62 patients with late-stage SCLC (III-IV) who received treatment using modern chemotherapy schemes was included in our investigation. Progression-free survival was analyzed from the start of the first course of chemotherapy to the detection of progression. ProGRP and NSE detection in blood serum was performed on the automatic biochemical analyzer Cobas e601 (Roche). CgA analysis was performed with ELISA method (Eurodiagnostica). Results. The medians of all studied markers were statistically significantly differentfrom the control. We revealed an association between basal serum levels of proGRP and progression-free survival in patients with SCLC (p=0.0039); while in the group of patients with proGRP levels over 1384pg/ml, the prognosis was less favorable. Survival analysis using NSE levels showed that in the group of patients with SCLC with levels above 72.9 ng/ml, the survival prognosis was less favorable (p=0.015). The simultaneous increase of proGRP and NSE secretion was a prognostically unfavorable factor. Conclusion. ProGRP and NSE can be used as predictors of progression-free survival in patients with advanced SCLC, and high marker levels were associated with an unfavorable prognosis.