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Giant cell carcinoma of the lung—immunohistochemical and ultrastructural evidence of dedifferentiation
Author(s) -
Addis Bruce J.,
Dewar Ann,
Thurlow Nicola P.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711550309
Subject(s) - vimentin , intermediate filament , keratin , immunohistochemistry , pathology , giant cell , ultrastructure , carcinoma , lung , biology , staining , cell , medicine , cytoskeleton , genetics
Ten examples of giant cell carcinoma of the lung were examined by immunohistochemistry for expression of keratin and vimentin intermediate filaments and for epithelial membrane antigen (EM A). Six cases were also examined electron microscopically. Keratin expression and, to a lesser extent, EMA immunoreactivity were reduced in comparison with better differentiated forms of lung carcinoma. Vimentin expression was increased, often taking the form of strong paranuclear staining. This may correspond to dense paranuclear aggregates of intermediate filaments seen ultrastructurally. Desmosomes were absent or sparse in most tumours. We propose that giant cell carcinoma arises by a process of dedifferentiation. The resulting loss of epithelial features gives rise to neoplastic cells which have features in common with some forms of sarcoma.