Neuroendocrine Differentiation in Lung Cancer

Neuroendocrine differentiation in non‐small cell lung cancer and its relation to prognosis and therapy

“…A fundamental problem in the study of NSCLC‐ND is the definition of NE differentiation 19 . The definition closest to the original concept of the NE cell as one with mixed neural and endocrine morphology requires the ultrastructural demonstration of membrane‐bound dense core granules 29 . However, very few studies have utilized this approach and instead almost all have used the less arduous technique of immunohistochemistry.…”

Erk/MAP Kinase Signaling Pathway and Neuroendocrine Differentiation of Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

“…There are two general categories of lung cancer: small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which are differentiated by histologic appearance, clinical behavior, and cancer therapy responses. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] It was later recognized that NED was not limited to SCLC and carcinoid, and it could involve NSCLC such as large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). 1 Neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) has been observed in approximately 25% to 33% of all lung tumors.…”

Histologically unique case of combined small cell and squamous cell carcinoma in a polypoid bronchial tumor

“…The neurosecretory apparatus itself can be identified by antibodies targeted to the secretory product or to matrix components of the secretory granule (chromogranin and synaptophysin). And N‐CAM, which is an antibody to structural epitopes of neural cells, has been used as well 8 . The present case showed that N‐CAM was positive for small round cells, which may suggest neuroendocrine features, although chromogranin A and synaptophysin were negative.…”

“…Pulmonary endocrine cells, occasionally known as Feyrter or Kulchitsky cells, are part of a family of morphologically similar cells distributed throughout the epithelial cell populations of the body. Some of these neuroendocrine cells, such as the C cells of the thyroid, may be of neural crest origin, but the endocrine cells of the lung and gut are now known to be of endodermal derivation 8 . Studies of SCLC and NSCLC suggest that neuroendocrine differentiation could be regulated by the human homolog of Mash1 ( hASH1 ) 11 .…”