MUC16 and silicosis: Similar results were reported in a study that evaluated serum cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) and NSE biomarkers in the context of disease severity in patients with silicosis [17,18]. The results showed that serum NSE levels were significantly higher in silicosis cases than in non-silicosis cases. With the progression of silicosis, NSE levels increased gradually [17,18].