Tumor-to-tumor metastasis from lung cancer: a clinicopathological postmortem study

Virchows Arch. 2013 Oct;463(4):525-34. doi: 10.1007/s00428-013-1455-8. Epub 2013 Aug 3.

Abstract

This study examined 47 cases of lung cancer concomitant with other tumors and found eight cases (17 %) with nine foci of tumor-to-tumor metastasis, defined as metastasis of lung cancer into another tumor. Donor lung cancers were four adenocarcinomas, two squamous cell carcinomas, and two small cell carcinomas. Tumor-to-tumor metastasis was found in five of six renal cell carcinomas (83 %), one of eight thyroid papillary carcinomas (13 %), one of three adrenocortical adenomas (33 %), one of three pancreatic endocrine microadenomas (33 %), and another lung cancer (one of six cases of multiple lung cancers, 17 %). The higher recipient incidence in renal cell carcinoma was statistically significant compared with prostatic carcinoma (0/16, P < 0.001), colorectal carcinoma (0/7, P = 0.005), and gastric carcinoma (0/5, P = 0.015). Generalized metastases were found in 88 % of the tumor-to-tumor metastasis cases. The total clinical course of patients with tumor-to-tumor metastasis was shorter than that of the patients without tumor-to-tumor metastasis (mean, 5.4 versus 18.8 months; P = 0.046). Tumor-to-tumor metastasis sometimes mimicked undifferentiated recipient tumor cells. Immunostains for thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1), Napsin A, cytokeratin 7 (CK7), and CK5/6 were useful to confirm tumor-to-tumor metastasis. However, TTF-1-, Napsin A-, and/or CK7-negative lung adenocarcinoma components metastasized to renal cell carcinoma in three cases, and recipient renal cell carcinomas were focally Napsin A+ (two cases) or CK7+ (two cases). Tumor-to-tumor metastasis can occur as a result of metastasis from lung cancer with more aggressive behavior. Tumor-to-tumor metastasis should be carefully distinguished from undifferentiated recipient tumor cells.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / pathology
  • Adrenocortical Adenoma / pathology
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Autopsy
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / secondary*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology*
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / pathology*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thyroid Cancer, Papillary
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor