[An ultrastructural and immunohistochemical observation of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung with neuroendocrine differentiation].
Thirteen cases (10.5%) of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung with neuroendocrine differentiation were identified ultrastructurally in 124 cases of resected pulmonary carcinoma. In addition to the features of epidermoid differentiation, i.e. presence of tonofilaments and desmosones, a small amount of cancer cells containing neurosecretory granules were found in all the 13 cases. Ultrastructures indicated that both epidermoid and neuroendocrine differentiations were present simultaneously in individual cancer cell. Immunohistochemical staining for NSE was performed in 12 cases. Positive reaction was obtained in all but one (91.7%). NSE positive cancer cells distributed focally or in single cell scattered in the cancer cell nests. The results suggest that biphasic differentiation of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed by light microscopy may not originate from different cells of different derms, but may be derived from a common stem cell of the bronchial epithelium which possesses the ability of multipotential differentiation.
Department of Pathology, General Hospital of PLA.
W H
WH
Li
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009489:Neurosecretion; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism
D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase