CD117, Ki-67, and p53 predict survival in neuroendocrine carcinomas, but not within the subgroup of small cell lung carcinoma.
High-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are aggressive tumors with limited treatment options. Recently, studies have observed that the tyrosine kinase receptor CD117 is often overexpressed in this malignancy. As a result, CD117 has been identified as a target for therapy via the small molecule, tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate. In the present study, 17 low-grade, 4 intermediate-grade, and 76 high-grade NECs were immunostained for CD117, Ki-67, and p53. Overexpression of the three markers was mainly, but not exclusively seen in the high-grade NECs. Patients with overexpression of CD117 and p53 and increased Ki-67 expression showed reduced survival. However, no difference in survival was observed when the same analysis was applied solely to small cell lung cancer patients, the largest subset studied. These findings suggest that overexpression of CD117, p53, and Ki-67 reflects tumor grade and predicts survival in NECs, but fail as prognostic markers in the subset of small cell lung cancer patients.
Department of Pathology, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, 1945 State Route 33, Neptune, NJ 07754, USA. BErler@meridianhealth.com
Brian S
BS
Erler
Matthew M
MM
Presby
Meredith
M
Finch
Allison
A
Hodges
Kari
K
Horowitz
Arthur A
AA
Topilow
Theodore
T
Matulewicz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit