In this study we compared the diagnostic utility of: (1) neuron-specific enolase (NSE); (2) squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC); (3) carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA); and (4) cytokeratin markers (CYFRA 21-1, TPA, TPM, TPS) in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) (21 cases) and non-small-cell lung cancer (94 cases). The gene discussed is PLAT; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.