title: Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical profile of non-small cell lung carcinoma in a tertiary care medical centre in South India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lung cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy causing high morbidity and mortality. An increasing incidence of lung cancer has been observed in India. Currently, the classification of lung carcinoma has gone beyond small cell lung carcinoma and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Precise subtyping of poorly differentiated NSCLC into adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma has a direct impact on patient management and prognosis. With this background, many molecules are under study for developing targeted therapies. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one such biomarker considered to be useful in targeted therapy for adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to subtype poorly differentiated NSCLC based on the expression of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) and p-63 and to evaluate EGFR expression in adenocarcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 84 cases of poorly differentiated carcinomas of the lung was performed. Paraffin sections were immunostained with TTF-1 and p-63 and the tumors were subtyped. EGFR expression was assessed in adenocarcinomas by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-five percent of the NSCLC were adenocarcinoma, with a peak incidence between 61 and 70 years of age and a male predominance. EGFR was expressed in 89% of the adenocarcinomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poorly differentiated non-small cell carcinoma can be subtyped by immunohistochemical markers and hence has a direct impact on the current therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Shanmugapriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Vijayalakshmi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thanasekaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dhanasekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Prathiba
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duvooru
keywords: Epidermal growth factor receptor; TTF-1; lung carcinomas; p-63