Journal of Cytology & Histology

Immunohistochemical Approach to the Diagnosis of Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

Abstract

Jelena Stojsic

Introduction: Differentiation between adenocarcinoma of the lung (LADC) from the other non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is possible by immunohistochemistry. When diagnosis of LADC is established, the rest of lung cancer tissue could be used for molecular testings, particularly EGFR analysis
Aim: To evaluate 4 antibodies TTF-1, Napsin-A, Cytokeratin7 and Surfactant B in diagnosis of LADC.
Materialsand Methods: Fifty small-sized samples, obtained upon bronchoscopy or transthoracic fine-needle lung biopsy, were included in this study. Diagnosis of LADC was performed after routine hematoxylin-eosin examination and TTF-1, Napsin-A, Surfactant B and Cytokeratin7 immunohistochemistry. Descriptive statistical method (%) was used in the study.
Results: Cytokeratin7 was expressed in 90% (45/50), than TTF-1-86% (43/50) and Napsin-A - 82% (41/50) and Surfactant B in 6% (28/50) in LADCs. Conclusion: TTF-1 is the most useful for diagnosis of LADC and Napsin-A in cases where TTF-1 is not expressed. Cytokeratin7 is useful in differentiation from digestive adenocarcinoma and Surfactant B in cases where TTF-1 and Napsin-A, individually or both are not expressed.