Since there is a lack of evidence contributing to the underlying mechanisms of NSE in SCLC stem cell-like characteristics, we revealed that NSE enhances stem cell-like characteristics of SCLC cells by interacting and decreasing NBL1 and strengthening the interaction between BMP2 and BMPR1A to activate the BMP2/Smad/ID1 pathway. Here, ID1 is linked to small cell lung carcinoma.