Biological characterization of central and peripheral primary non small cell lung cancers (NSCLC).
BACKGROUND
Non Small Cell Lung Carcinomas (NSCLC) comprise 90% of all lung carcinomas. Studies have demonstrated a preferential central (bronchus-derived) localization for squamous cells, whereas adenocarcinomas are frequently peripheral (bronchiolo-alveolus derived). It has been suggested that exposure to carcinogenic insults including cigarette smoke, may induce different types of tumors in different locations.


METHODS
Forty one NSCLC patients staged according to WHO and TNM were considered for localization and biological parameters (p53 expression, cell ploidy and S-phase).


RESULTS
p53 overexpression was found more frequently in central than in peripheral tumors (69% vs 39%) (p = 0.074). Central tumors were more aneuploid (69%) than peripheral ones (46%) (p = 0.03) No difference in smoking habit was observed in the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that there is no apparent biological difference between these two groups of NSCLCs, and that the smoking does not play a role in either histotype determination or biological behavior.
Malara
N M
NM
Institute of General Pathology and Cancer Research Center Giovanni XXIII, Catholic University-School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
Sgambato
A
A
Granone
P
P
Flamini
G
G
Margaritora
S
S
Boninsegna
A
A
Cesario
A
A
Galetta
D
D
Yang
Q
Q
Cittadini
A
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004171:Diploidy; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012907:Smoking; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53