
Synchronous double primary lung cancers via p53 pathway induced by heavy smoking
Author(s) -
Cheng-Chih Lin,
ChihFeng Chian,
Wann-Cherng Perng,
MingFang Cheng
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
annals of saudi medicine/annals of saudi medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.373
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 0975-4466
pISSN - 0256-4947
DOI - 10.4103/0256-4947.62837
Subject(s) - medicine , lung , immunohistochemistry , pathology , lung cancer , bronchoscopy , carcinoma , bronchus , lesion , phenotype , oncology , radiology , respiratory disease , gene , biology , biochemistry
Differences in the histological manifestation of synchronous lung cancers are rare. Synchronous multiple primary lung cancers (SMPLC) are associated with long-term tobacco use, which could independently lead to mutations in the p53 and K-ras genes. We present the case of an 82-year-old man who smoked 30 cigarettes daily for the past 60 years. CT of the chest showed a right upper lobe mass. Bronchoscopy revealed an intra-lumen nodular lesion in the right lower lobe bronchus. The diagnoses of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) of the right upper lobe and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) of the right lower lobe were confirmed by the morphologic features and the detected immunoreactivity. Immunohistochemical analyses showed a strong positive reaction for p53 in samples of the SCLC and NSCLC. The cancers had a different phenotype, but similar genetic abnormalities may have developed due to the carcinogens in the cigarettes.