This invention relates to a method of monitoring cancer development by determining the abundance of alpha-enolase protein wherein increased abundance is an indication of the severity of cancer. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method of detecting cancer malignancy by determining the abundance of alpha-enolase antibodies in a sample wherein low levels of such antibodies indicates the malignancy of cancer. Also provided is a method of suppressing tumor growth by inducing the anti-ENO1 immune response.
