The impact of immunohistochemistry on the classification of lung tumors.
To highlight the role of immunohistochemistry to lung cancer classification on the basis of existing guidelines and future perspectives.



Four orienting key-issues were structured according to an extensive review on the English literature: a) cancer subtyping; b) best biomarkers and rules to follow; c) negative and positive profiling; d) suggestions towards an evidence-based proposal for lung cancer subtyping. A sparing material approach based on a limited number of specific markers is highly desirable. It includes p40 for squamous cell carcinoma ('no p40, no squamous'), TTF1 for adenocarcinoma, synaptophysin for neuroendocrine tumors and vimentin for sarcomatoid carcinoma. A close relationship between genotype and phenotype also supports a diagnostic role for negative profiles. Expert commentary: Highly specific and sensitive IHC markers according to positive and negative diagnostic algorithms seem appropriate for individual patients' lung cancer subtyping.
a Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Pelosi
b Department of Pathology and Diagnostics , University and Hospital Trust of Verona , Verona , Italy.|c ARC-Net Research Centre , University and Hospital Trust of Verona , Verona , Italy.
Aldo
A
Scarpa
d Department of Pathology , University Hospital Center (CHU), North Hospital , Saint Etienne , France.
Fabien
F
Forest
e Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine , Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori , Milan , Italy.
Angelica
A
Sonzogni
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
Immunohistochemistry; TTF1; algorithm; carcinoma; classification; diagnosis; lung; morphology; non-small cell lung cancer; p40; small cell lung cancer