Elevated Serum Chromogranin A Concentrations in Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma

Abstract

Serum chromogranin A concentrations measured by radioimmunoassay in patients with small-cell lung carcinoma were compared with values from healthy adults and patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The mean (± SE) level was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.02) in patients with smallcell lung carcinoma (815 ± 290 ng/mL, n= 46) than in normal controls (123 ± 6 ng/mL, n= 20) or patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (169 ± 18 ng/mL, n= 39), lung adenocarcinoma (180 ± 22, ng/mL, n= 62), large-cell lung carcinoma (183 ± 23 ng/mL, n=18), or lung epidermoid carcinoma (203 ± 37 ng/mL, n= 78). The mean concentration in extensive-stage smallcell lung carcinoma (1155 ± 449 ng/mL, n= 29) was significantly greater (p=0.026) than in limited disease (234 ± 56 ng/mL, n=17). Elevated serum chromogranin A values were seen in 53% of patients with limited and 72% with extensive disease. Four patients originally classified as having non-small-cell lung carcinomas with raised chromogranin A levels were subsequently found to have mixed small-cell and non-small-cell tumors. Serum chromogranin A concentrations may be a useful marker of small-cell lung carcinoma disease activity.