title: Expression of cytokeratin and neuron-specific enolase in small cell carcinomas of the lung.
abstract: Using a polyclonal antibody against human epidermal keratins and a monoclonal antibody against cytokeratins characteristic of simple epithelia, and the Avidin-Biotin system of immunohistochemistry, we have demonstrated cytokeratin expression in 46% and in 60% of small cell carcinomas of the lung at autopsy respectively. The latter gave a diffuse stronger reaction product than the polyclonal antibody. The results suggest that there is a cytokeratin rich and a cytokeratin poor type of small cell carcinoma. Neuron-specific enolase immunohistochemistry was positive in 60% of the cases. Coexpression with cytokeratin was seen in ten cases (30%). The expression of cytokeratin and neuron-specific enolase in small cell carcinomas strongly suggests that they are of an epithelial origin, but are capable of neuroendocrine differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Kitinya
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kingo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007633:Keratins; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase