Thyroid transcription factor 1 and cytokeratins 1, 5, 10, 14 (34betaE12) expression in basaloid and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung.
Basaloid carcinoma (BC) and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) are 2 recently recognized variants of large-cell lung carcinomas that may overlap in their morphology, and are discriminated by expression of neuroendocrine markers in LCNEC. Because thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) is expressed in lung adenocarcinomas but not in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), and 34betaE12 recognizes a set of high-molecular-weight cytokeratins characteristic of basal stem cells, we hypothesized that these 2 markers could help in distinguishing BC from LCNEC. Immunostaining for TTF-1 was detected in 40.9% of pure LCNEC but in no BC or basaloid variant of SCC. In contrast, immunoreactivity for 34betaE12 was shown in all BC and basaloid variant of SCC but in only 1 LCNEC. Bouin fixation was less efficient than formalin in the immunodetection of both markers for its well-known deleterious effect on antigen preservation. Specificity of TTF-1 for LCNEC (100%) and that of 34betaE12 for BC (98.3%) exceeded that of NE markers for distinction of these 2 entities. These data show that TTF-1 and 34betaE12, in association with specific neuroendocrine markers, represent a useful panel of antibodies in differentiating carcinomas presenting with a solid pattern, palisading, or pseudorosettes, the expression of TTF-1 excluding the diagnosis of BC, and staining with 34betaE12 excluding pure LCNEC.
Sturm
N
N
Laboratoire de Pathologie Cellulaire, Service de Chirurgie Thoracique, and Lung Cancer Research Group, INSERM 9924, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Albert Michallon, Grenoble, France.
Lantuéjoul
S
S
Laverrière
M H
MH
Papotti
M
M
Brichon
P Y
PY
Brambilla
C
C
Brambilla
E
E
D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*
C000614412:NKX2-1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D007633:Keratins