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Differential expression of neural‐cadherin in pulmonary epithelial tumours
Author(s) -
Zynger D L,
Dimov N D,
Ho L C,
Laskin W B,
Yeldandi A V
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2007.02952.x
Subject(s) - pathology , carcinoid tumour , adenocarcinoma , immunohistochemistry , large cell , hyperplasia , cadherin , lymph node , neuroendocrine cell , carcinoma , biology , neuroendocrine tumors , lung , medicine , cell , cancer , genetics
Aims: Neural (N)‐cadherin belongs to a group of transmembrane molecules with a crucial role in tissue morphogenesis and maintenance of an epithelioid phenotype and increased N‐cadherin expression is implicated in tumour progression and dedifferentiation. The aim was to determine whether evaluation of N‐cadherin in pulmonary tumours might assist in identifying lesions with more aggressive potential. Methods and results: One hundred and fifty‐five pulmonary lesions were analysed for N‐cadherin expression using immunohistochemistry, including neuroendocrine hyperplasia ( n = 3), typical carcinoid ( n = 59), atypical carcinoid ( n = 12), small cell lung carcinoma ( n = 11), large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma ( n = 12), adenocarcinoma ( n = 35) and squamous cell carcinoma ( n = 23). Lymph node status was correlated with immunohistochemical expression. N‐cadherin expression was demonstrated in all cases of neuroendocrine hyperplasia, 96% of typical carcinoids, 83% of atypical carcinoids, 63% of the small cell lung carcinomas and 32% of large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. Over 90% of the adenocarcinomas and 100% of the squamous cell carcinomas were negative. Increased N‐cadherin expression in typical carcinoids was associated with negative lymph node status ( P < 0.001). Discussion: N‐cadherin is differentially expressed in pulmonary tumours and is predominantly observed in neuroendocrine lung lesions with high expression in typical and atypical pulmonary carcinoids. The level of expression of N‐cadherin between types of lung tumours does not appear to indicate malignant potential or aggressive behaviour.