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Neuroendocrine differentiation in thymic epithelial tumors with special reference to thymic carcinoma and atypical thymoma.

Abstract
To determine the neuroendocrine (NE) features of thymic epithelial tumor, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy studies were performed on eight NE tumors (thymic carcinoids) and 26 non-NE tumors (nine thymic carcinomas, five atypical thymomas, and 12 thymomas other than lymphocytic thymoma). Immunohistochemical studies were performed with antibodies against general markers for NE cells (synaptophysin, alpha subunit of a guanine nucleotide-binding protein, Go, and small-cell lung carcinoma cluster 1 antigen), and a broad panel of antibodies for hormonal substances. Thymic carcinoid showed synchronous diffuse immunoreactivity for the three NE markers and contained cells that were positive for a variety of hormonal products: human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) alpha-subunit (eight of eight), hCG beta-subunit (three of eight), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (three of eight), calcitonin (two of eight), calcitonin gene-related peptide (two of eight), and serotonin (one of eight). Conversely, although positivity for NE markers was neither synchronous nor diffuse in non-NE tumors, seven of nine thymic carcinomas, three of five atypical thymomas (focal or dispersed distribution), and none of the five thymomas were positive for at least two of these NE markers. A small number of neoplastic cells were positive for hCGalpha-subunit or ACTH in three thymic carcinomas and one atypical thymoma. Ultrastructurally, dense core granules (DCG) were much more frequent in thymic carcinoid, but several DCG-like granules were identified in 12 of 13 non-NE tumors with or without immunoexpression of NE markers. The presence of focal or dispersed NE cells in thymic carcinoma and atypical thymoma may reflect multidirectional differentiation within the tumor, which, like cytological atypia, epithelial CD5 expression, and lack of immature T cell infiltration, may be another feature of this group at thymic tumors.
AuthorsT Hishima, M Fukayama, Y Hayashi, T Fujii, K Arai, Y Shiozawa, N Funata, M Koike
JournalHuman pathology (Hum Pathol) Vol. 29 Issue 4 Pg. 330-8 (Apr 1998) ISSN: 0046-8177 [Print] United States
PMID9563781 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • CD5 Antigens
  • Hormones
  • Synaptophysin
  • GTP-Binding Proteins
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go
Topics
  • Adenocarcinoma (metabolism, pathology, ultrastructure)
  • CD5 Antigens (metabolism)
  • Carcinoma (metabolism, pathology, ultrastructure)
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (metabolism, pathology, ultrastructure)
  • Cell Differentiation
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go
  • GTP-Binding Proteins (metabolism)
  • Hormones (metabolism)
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Neurosecretory Systems (metabolism, pathology)
  • Synaptophysin (metabolism)
  • T-Lymphocytes (cytology)
  • Thymoma (metabolism, pathology, ultrastructure)
  • Thymus Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology, ultrastructure)

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