The variables shown in this study, to be independent determinants of a poor outcome, are well-established survival features of NSCLC (i.e. poor performance status, positive nodal status, presence of metastases, nonsquamous histology, an elevated alkaline phosphatase level, a high serum CYFRA 21-1 level and a high serum NSE level). The gene discussed is ENO2; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.