Peripheral airway cell marker expression in non-small cell lung carcinoma. Association with distinct clinicopathologic features

Am J Clin Pathol. 1992 Feb;97(2):233-43. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/97.2.233.

Abstract

Paraffin sections of 247 primary and metastatic non-small cell lung carcinomas, the corresponding non-neoplastic lungs, and 75 other specimens were examined by immunohistochemical procedures using a panel of antibodies against the specific products of peripheral airway cells: the major surfactant-associated protein and 10-kD Clara cell protein. Non-small cell lung carcinoma tumors most frequently positive for either peripheral airway cell marker were adenocarcinomas (41%), especially those with papillolepidic growth pattern (56%), followed by large cell carcinomas (25%), other adenocarcinomas (22%), and squamous cell carcinomas (16%). Immunoreactivity was mainly focal and the expression of the two peripheral airway cell markers was discordant. The incidence of marker expression was similar in metastatic and primary non-small cell lung carcinoma. Other organs and their tumors were negative, with few exceptions. Non-small cell lung carcinomas positive for peripheral airway cell markers were associated with younger age and less-intense smoking, and surfactant-associated protein reactivity was more common in women than in men. Peripheral airway cell markers were independent prognostic factors for survival and delayed development of metastases in patients with less-advanced disease. It is concluded that surfactant-associated protein and 10-kD Clara cell protein are specific markers for non-small cell lung carcinoma and peripheral airway cell differentiation and provide useful tools to study the pathogenesis, biology, and prognosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / mortality
  • Histocytochemistry / methods
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proteolipids / metabolism*
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins
  • Pulmonary Surfactants / metabolism*
  • Respiratory System / metabolism*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Smoking
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Survival Analysis
  • Uteroglobin*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Proteins
  • Proteolipids
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins
  • Pulmonary Surfactants
  • SCGB1A1 protein, human
  • Uteroglobin