help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Nobels, F. R. E.
Right arrow Articles by Lamberts, S. W. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Nobels, F. R. E.
Right arrow Articles by Lamberts, S. W. J.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*OMIM
*Compound via MeSH
*Substance via MeSH
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 82, No. 8 2622-2628
Copyright © 1997 by The Endocrine Society

Experimental Studies

Chromogranin A as Serum Marker for Neuroendocrine Neoplasia: Comparison with Neuron-Specific Enolase and the {alpha}-Subunit of Glycoprotein Hormones

Frank R. E. Nobels, Dik J. Kwekkeboom, Willy Coopmans, Christiaan H. H. Schoenmakers, Jan Lindemans, Wouter W. De Herder, Eric P. Krenning, Roger Bouillon and Steven W. J. Lamberts

Departments of Medicine (F.N., W.D.H., S.L.), Nuclear Medicine (D.K., E.K.), and Clinical Laboratory (C.S., J.L.), University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and the Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg (W.C., R.B.), Leuven, Belgium

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. F. Nobels, Department of Endocrinology, Onze Lieve Vrouw Hospital, 164 Moorselbaan, 9300 Aalst, Belgium.

Chromogranin A (CgA) is gaining acceptance as a serum marker of neuroendocrine tumors. Its specificity in differentiating between neuroendocrine and nonneuroendocrine tumors, its sensitivity to detect small tumors, and its clinical value, compared with other neuroendocrine markers, have not clearly been defined, however. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the clinical usefulness of CgA as neuroendocrine serum marker. Serum levels of CgA, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and the {alpha}-subunit of glycoprotein hormones ({alpha}-SU) were determined in 211 patients with neuroendocrine tumors and 180 control subjects with nonendocrine tumors. The concentrations of CgA, NSE, and {alpha}-SU were elevated in 50%, 43%, and 24% of patients with neuroendocrine tumors, respectively. Serum CgA was most frequently increased in subjects with gastrinomas (100%), pheochromocytomas (89%), carcinoid tumors (80%), nonfunctioning tumors of the endocrine pancreas (69%), and medullary thyroid carcinomas (50%). The highest levels were observed in subjects with carcinoid tumors. NSE was most frequently elevated in patients with small cell lung carcinoma (74%), and {alpha}-SU was most frequently elevated in patients with carcinoid tumors (39%). Most subjects with elevated {alpha}-SU levels also had elevated CgA concentrations. A significant positive relationship was demonstrated between the tumor load and serum CgA levels (P < 0.01, by {chi}2 test). Elevated concentrations of CgA, NSE, and {alpha}-SU were present in, respectively, 7%, 35%, and 15% of control subjects. Markedly elevated serum levels of CgA, exceeding 300 µg/L, were observed in only 2% of control patients (n = 3) compared to 40% of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (n = 76). We conclude that CgA is the best general neuroendocrine serum marker available. It has the highest specificity for the detection of neuroendocrine tumors compared to the other neuroendocrine markers, NSE and {alpha}-SU. Elevated levels are strongly correlated with tumor volume; therefore, small tumors may go undetected. Although its specificity cannot compete with that of the specific hormonal secretion products of most neuroendocrine tumors, it can have useful clinical applications in subjects with neuroendocrine tumors for whom either no marker is available or the marker is inconvenient for routine clinical use.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
M. S. Zemskova, E. S. Nylen, N. J. Patronas, E. H. Oldfield, K. L. Becker, and L. K. Nieman
Diagnostic Accuracy of Chromogranin A and Calcitonin Precursors Measurements for the Discrimination of Ectopic ACTH Secretion from Cushing's Disease
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2009; 94(8): 2962 - 2965.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 The OncologistHome page
S. N. Pinchot, K. Holen, R. S. Sippel, and H. Chen
Carcinoid Tumors
Oncologist, December 1, 2008; 13(12): 1255 - 1269.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
P. Bech, V. Winstanley, K. G. Murphy, A. H. Sam, K. Meeran, M. A. Ghatei, and S. R. Bloom
Elevated Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Immunoreactivity in the Circulation of Patients with Neuroendocrine Malignancy
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2008; 93(4): 1246 - 1253.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Endocr Relat CancerHome page
M. C. Zatelli, M. Torta, A. Leon, M. R. Ambrosio, M. Gion, P. Tomassetti, F. De Braud, G. Delle Fave, L. Dogliotti, E. C d. Uberti, et al.
Chromogranin A as a marker of neuroendocrine neoplasia: an Italian Multicenter Study
Endocr. Relat. Cancer, June 1, 2007; 14(2): 473 - 482.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
D. Campana, F. Nori, L. Piscitelli, A. M. Morselli-Labate, R. Pezzilli, R. Corinaldesi, and P. Tomassetti
Chromogranin A: Is It a Useful Marker of Neuroendocrine Tumors?
J. Clin. Oncol., May 20, 2007; 25(15): 1967 - 1973.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J EndocrinolHome page
M. d'Herbomez, G. Forzy, C. Bauters, C. Tierny, P. Pigny, B. Carnaille, F. Pattou, J.-L. Wemeau, and N. Rouaix
An analysis of the biochemical diagnosis of 66 pheochromocytomas
Eur. J. Endocrinol., May 1, 2007; 156(5): 569 - 575.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
T. Borglum, J. F. Rehfeld, L. B. Drivsholm, and L. Hilsted
Processing-Independent Quantitation of Chromogranin A in Plasma from Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors and Small-Cell Lung Carcinomas
Clin. Chem., March 1, 2007; 53(3): 438 - 446.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. Nasr, A. Mason, M. Mayberg, S. M. Staugaitis, and S. L. Asa
Acromegaly and Somatotroph Hyperplasia with Adenomatous Transformation Due to Pituitary Metastasis of a Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone-Secreting Pulmonary Endocrine Carcinoma
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2006; 91(12): 4776 - 4780.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
K. Pals, M. Boussemaere, E. Swinnen, H. Vankelecom, and C. Denef
A Pituitary Cell Type Coexpressing Messenger Ribonucleic Acid of Proopiomelanocortin and the Glycoprotein Hormone {alpha}-Subunit in Neonatal Rat and Chicken: Rapid Decline with Age and Reappearance in Vitro under Regulatory Pressure of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone in the Rat
Endocrinology, October 1, 2006; 147(10): 4738 - 4752.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 The OncologistHome page
J. M. Zuetenhorst and B. G. Taal
Metastatic Carcinoid Tumors: A Clinical Review
Oncologist, February 1, 2005; 10(2): 123 - 131.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Endocr. Rev.Home page
G. A. Kaltsas, G. M. Besser, and A. B. Grossman
The Diagnosis and Medical Management of Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors
Endocr. Rev., June 1, 2004; 25(3): 458 - 511.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Diabetes CareHome page
C. E.M. De Block, G. Colpin, K. Thielemans, W. Coopmans, J. J.P.M. Bogers, P. A. Pelckmans, E. A.E. Van Marck, V. Van Hoof, M. Martin, I. H. De Leeuw, et al.
Neuroendocrine Tumor Markers and Enterochromaffin-Like Cell Hyper/Dysplasia in Type 1 Diabetes
Diabetes Care, June 1, 2004; 27(6): 1387 - 1393.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann OncolHome page
M. Cimitan, A. Buonadonna, R. Cannizzaro, V. Canzonieri, E. Borsatti, R. Ruffo, and L. De Apollonia
Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy versus chromogranin A assay in the management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of different types: clinical role
Ann. Onc., July 1, 2003; 14(7): 1135 - 1141.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
B. Colombo, R. Longhi, C. Marinzi, F. Magni, A. Cattaneo, S. H. Yoo, F. Curnis, and A. Corti
Cleavage of Chromogranin A N-terminal Domain by Plasmin Provides a New Mechanism for Regulating Cell Adhesion
J. Biol. Chem., November 22, 2002; 277(48): 45911 - 45919.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Cancer Res.Home page
M. Sugita, M. Geraci, B. Gao, R. L. Powell, F. R. Hirsch, G. Johnson, R. Lapadat, E. Gabrielson, R. Bremnes, P. A. Bunn, et al.
Combined Use of Oligonucleotide and Tissue Microarrays Identifies Cancer/Testis Antigens as Biomarkers in Lung Carcinoma
Cancer Res., July 15, 2002; 62(14): 3971 - 3979.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
D. Granberg, M. Stridsberg, R. Seensalu, B. Eriksson, G. Lundqvist, K. Öberg, and B. Skogseid
Plasma Chromogranin A in Patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 1999; 84(8): 2712 - 2717.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 Clin. Chem.Home page
T. Borglum Jensen, L. Hilsted, and J. F. Rehfeld
Library of Sequence-specific Radioimmunoassays for Human Chromogranin A
Clin. Chem., April 1, 1999; 45(4): 549 - 560.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
E. Baudin, J.-M. Bidart, P. Rougier, V. Lazar, P. Ruffié, J. Ropers, M. Ducreux, F. Troalen, J.-C. Sabourin, E. Comoy, et al.
Screening for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 and Hormonal Production in Apparently Sporadic Neuroendocrine Tumors
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 1999; 84(1): 69 - 75.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1997 by The Endocrine Society