Neuroendocrine differentiation in non-small cell lung cancer and its relation to prognosis and therapy.

Abstract

AIMS:

Histopathologists report the presence of neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) in up to a third of cases and are often questioned about its clinical relevance. The conclusions of previous studies have been inconsistent. This paper aims to provide an answer by examining a large series together with a comprehensive critique of the literature.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Four hundred and thirty-nine cases of NSCLC were examined, immunohistochemically, using antibodies to chromogranin A (CGA), synaptophysin (SYN) and CD56/neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). Three hundred and forty-one cases had been treated with surgical resection and the remainder with chemotherapy. The results were compared with clinical outcome. Thity-six percent of cases had positive staining for at least one NE marker. CGA was positive in 5.5% of cases, SYN in 16.5% and NCAM in 28%. There was no association between the presence of NE markers and survival in either the surgically treated group or the chemotherapy-treated group. There was also no association between NE markers and response to chemotherapy in the latter group.

CONCLUSIONS:

The presence of immunohistochemically detected NE differentiation in NSCLC is not of prognostic significance.

• Authors: M C Howe, A Chapman, K Kerr, M Dougal, H Anderson, P S Hasleton
• Journal: Histopathology (Histopathology) Vol. 46 Issue 2 Pg. 195-201 (Feb 2005) ISSN: 0309-0167 [Print] England
• PMID: 15693892 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Chromogranin A
• Chromogranins
• Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules
• Synaptophysin

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Carcinoma, Large Cell (metabolism, pathology)
• Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine (metabolism, pathology)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (metabolism, pathology, therapy)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Differentiation
• Chromogranin A
• Chromogranins (analysis)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lung Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology, therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules (analysis)
• Prognosis
• Survival Analysis
• Synaptophysin (analysis)