title: TTF-1, cytokeratin 7, 34betaE12, and CD56/NCAM immunostaining in the subclassification of large cell carcinomas of the lung.
abstract: We selected a 4-stain immunopanel including thyroid transcription factor (7ITF)-], cytokeratin (CK)7, 34betaE12, and CD56/neural cell adhesion molecule(NCAM) to subclassify a series of 45 pulmonary large cell carcinomas (LCCs) on bronchial biopsy. All cases consisted of a large tumor cell proliferation with abundant cytoplasm, vesicular nuclei, and prominent nucleoli. Immunohistochemically, 27 tumors (60%)were subclassified as adenocarcinoma (7TF-1 +/CK7+,24; CK7+ only, 3), 10 (22%) as squamous cell carcinoma (34betaE12+ only), and 4 (9%) as LCC with neuroendocrine differentiation (CD56+, variably stained with TTF-I and CK7, 34betaE12-). In 4 cases, the tumors coexpressed CK7 and 34betaE12 (3 cases) or were completely unstained (I case). Surgically resected tumors matched exactly with the corresponding original biopsy specimens in 21 of 23 cases; consistent CD56 expression was a reliable marker in confirming a diagnosis of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma even on biopsy. Our results suggest that the proposed 4-stainset of commercially available markers might help subclassify LCC even in small biopsy material, validating expression-profiling studies aimed at lung cancer classification and permitting more consistent patient enrollment for trials with targeted treatments.
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchioni
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scotti
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foroni
authors.forename: AnnaMaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cesinaro
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Migaldi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavazza
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053552:Keratin-7; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019002:CD56 Antigen; C507497:KRT7 protein, human; D053552:Keratin-7; C000614412:NKX2-1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D007633:Keratins