Expression of hormonal receptors (alpha-estrogen, beta-estrogen, progesteron), Ki-67 and P53 in endometrium of tamoxifen treated breast cancer patients

Tamoxifen is the most commonly prescribed adjuvant therapy for women with breast carcinoma ER+. It has agonist activity on the endometrium and is associated with an increased risk of endometrial carcinoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical changes on the histological endometrial modification from the patients treated with tamoxifen. Material and method: A group of 20 women selected from 125 patients with breast carcinoma, with adjuvant therapy. The criteria of selection were the histopathological proliferative changes of endometrium from these symptomatic patients. The 20 specimens of endometrium were evaluate immunohistochemycal by estrogen receptor alpha, beta, progesterone receptor, Ki-67 and P53. Results and conclusions: The 20 endometrium specimen showed histological proliferative endometrial lessions, including polyps, hyperplasia and carcinoma. Immunohistochemical, benign lessions showned expression of estrogen alpha and beta receptor, low expression Ki-67 and absent expression of P53. These tests were negative in clear cell carcinoma, but were intens positive for Ki-67 and P53. In general, tamoxifen associated endometrial adenocarcinoma were characterized by a lower expression of estrogen receptor alpha, higher expression of progesterone receptor, and more frequent expression of estrogen receptor beta than endometrial spontaneous tumors.     

非小细胞肺癌患者血清雌激素水平与肺癌组织中雌激素受体表达及其临床病理意义

目的探讨非小细胞肺癌患者血清雌激素水平与肺癌组织中雌激素受体表达及其临床病理意义,为非小细胞肺癌的防治提供一些参考。方法选择2010年1月～2012年12月本院收治的经病理证实的肺腺癌患者36例作为观察组,同时选择同期在我院治疗的经病理学证实的肺鳞癌患者32例作为对照一组和来我院体检肺部健康的志愿者30例作为对照二组,然后利用免疫组织染色化学技术对所有参与实验的人员肺部组织进行瘦素、血清雌激素（E）及雌激素受体（ER）的检测,分别对观察组、对照一组、对照二组患者的瘦素、血清雌激素（E）及雌激素受体（ER）进行比较,然后对观察组男性肺腺癌患者和女性肺腺癌患者的瘦素、血清雌激素（E）及雌激素受体（ER）进行比较。结果观察组与对照一组、对照二组相比,瘦素、血清雌激素（E）及雌激素受体（ER）阳性表达明显高于其他两组,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;与男性相比较,观察组女性患者体内的瘦素、血清雌激素（E）阳性表达变化不显著（P〉0.05）,但是女性患者中ER阳性表达显著高于男性,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论非小细胞肺癌患者的瘦素、血清雌激素（E）、雌激素受体（ER）的阳性表达高于正常人的,说明这三种因素可能参加着非小细胞肺癌的发生,可作为诊断非小细胞肺癌的重要依据。     

Detection of estrogen receptor by immunohistochemistry in pulmonary adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: The distinction between primary adenocarcinoma and metastatic breast carcinoma in the lung is important for therapeutic purposes. There is a good deal of morphologic overlap between primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma and breast carcinoma metastatic in the lung. Many diagnosticians rely upon the presence of estrogen receptor (ER) in tumors of the lung in women in order to make a pathologic diagnosis of metastatic breast carcinoma. There are conflicting data in the literature regarding the presence of ER in lung carcinomas. In this study, we examined primary lung adenocarcinomas with monoclonal antibodies to two different clones to ER (clone 6F11 and clone 1D5), and progesterone receptor by the immunoperoxidase method in order to ascertain if ER is detectable in primary lung adenocarcinomas. METHODS: Twenty-five resected solitary pulmonary nonmucinous bronchioalveolar carcinomas (15 female, 10 male) and 20 resected solitary pulmonary adenocarcinomas of no special type (12F, 8 mol/L) were studied by the immunohistochemical method using heat-induced epitope retrieval. Immunostaining was semiquantitated, and positive results included nuclear staining for ER and progesterone receptor. All of these tumors were documented as primary pulmonary adenocarcinomas clinically and pathologically. RESULTS: Nuclear ER was seen only with the 6F11 clone, in 56% of the bronchioalveolar type and 80% of the no special type. No nuclear ER was seen in carcinomas utilizing the 1D5 clone. There was no progesterone receptor detectable in carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: Estrogen receptor is present in the majority of lung adenocarcinomas, and detection of ER in lung adenocarcinomas is dependent upon the antibody clone that is used. Epitope recognition may account for the differences in immunoreactivity between these two antibodies, although a cross-reactive antibody reaction cannot be completely excluded. Further study is warranted to discern the nature of the 6F11 clone immunoreactivity with nuclei of lung adenocarcinomas. The clinical significance and ramifications of ER in pulmonary adenocarcinomas remain unknown. Caution should be exercised by clinicians and pathologists in accepting a diagnosis of metastatic breast carcinoma in lung based on the presence of ER detected by clone 6F11.     

Prognostic significance of preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen level in lung adenocarcinoma but not squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical significance of measurement of preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level in patients with non-small cell lung cancer was investigated. METHODS: Consecutive 271 adenocarcinoma and 112 squamous cell carcinoma patients of non-small cell lung cancer referred to our institute were included in this study. There were 214 men and 169 women, ages ranged from 19 to 90 years, with an average of 64.46 years. Curative resection was performed for 220 adenocarcinoma and 93 squamous cell carcinoma patients. Serum level of CEA was measured before staging or resection of cancer. RESULTS: There is a trend toward a correlation between serum CEA level and stage of the diseases, however, serum CEA level was not always related to tumor node metastasis (TNM) status. In patients with adenocarcinoma, survival rate of patients with an elevated serum CEA level was significantly lower than that with a normal serum CEA level. Multivariate analysis showed that prognostic significance of serum CEA level was TNM staging independent in patients with adenocarcinoma. On the other hand, serum CEA level was not related to patients' survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated preoperative serum CEA level is a TNM staging independent prognostic factor for patients with adenocarcinoma but not for those with squamous cell carcinoma.     

Steroid hormone receptors in laryngeal carcinoma

The larynx has long been shown to be a target organ for androgenic steroids in both women and men, and specific androgen receptors have been determined in normal laryngeal mucosa and in laryngeal carcinoma tissue. In this study, samples from 21 primary laryngeal carcinomas, from 4 recurrent laryngeal carcinomas and from 1 cervical metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma were obtained at the time of surgery to assay specific androgen, estrogen, and progesterone receptors. Specific androgen receptors were found in 8 samples (31%). The level of receptors varied from 1.7 femtomoles (fmol) per milligram to 7.3 fmol/mg cytosol protein. Detectable levels of specific estrogen receptors were found in 18 samples (69%) and progesterone receptors in 8 of the 15 samples studied (53%). There was no apparent correspondence with donors' sex, since samples from both females and males contained all kinds of receptors. We know that antiestrogen inhibits the growth of squamous carcinoma cells lines positive for estrogen receptors in vitro and that this effect is reversible with the appropriate hormone. Thus, the relatively high percentage of estrogen and progesterone receptors found in laryngeal carcinoma tissue may open new aspects in the treatment of laryngeal carcinoma with antihormones.     

Gender Difference as a Prognostic Factor in Patients Undergoing Resection of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose We studied the effects of gender difference on the incidence of lung cancer and its mortality rate, which is a subject of much discussion. Methods We examined gender difference in the clinical features of 491 men and 222 women who underwent resection of primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between 1994 and 2004. Results The histological types of cancer were adenocarcinoma in 249 (51%) of the men and 182 (82%) of the women, and squamous cell carcinoma in 182 (37%) of the men and 27 (12%) of the women. The incidence of adenocarcinoma was significantly higher in the women. The proportion of stage IA disease was significantly higher in the women than in the men (45% vs 29%, respectively). The 5-year overall survival rates were 50% in the men and 63% in the women. In a multivariate analysis, gender difference was an independent prognostic factor; however, when death as a result of unrelated disease was excluded, there was no significant difference in prognosis. Conclusion Although the higher incidences of adenocarcinoma and stage IA cancer contributed to the good results of surgery in women, the low incidence of death attributed to diseases other than lung cancer was a major reason for their better prognosis.     

Multiple primary cancers in surgically resected lung cancer patients

Among 337 cases of surgically resected lung cancer from April 1977 to March 1984, there were 24 cases (7.12%) of multiple primary cancers including 22 cases of double cancer and one case each of triple and quadruple cancer. They consisted of 17 males and 7 females and the patient age at the time of the lung resection ranged from 32 to 81 years old (average: 67.4). In double cancer cases, the most common site of the other primary cancer was the lung (9 cases), followed by the stomach (5 cases), the colon (4 cases), the pancreas (2 cases), and there was one case each of the salivary gland and the skin. The cases of triple and quadruple cancer involved multiple primary lung cancer associated with mammary and esophageal cancer, respectively. There were 14 synchronous and 8 metachronous cases. The histology of lung cancer in 13 cases of double cancer was adenocarcinoma in 6, squamous cell carcinoma in 2, large cell carcinoma in 3, small cell carcinoma in 1, and adenosquamous cell carcinoma in 1. The histology of 11 cases of double or triple primary lung cancers was squamous cell carcinoma in 17, adenocarcinoma in 5, and large cell carcinoma in 1. In 24 cases 19 lobectomies, 4 pneumonectomies and one partial resection of the lung was performed for the first primary lung cancer. All cancer lesions of other organs apart from the lung were also surgically resected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Correlation of meningioma hormone receptor status with hormone sensitivity in a tumor stem-cell assay

Several investigators have detected progesterone receptors in a high percentage of meningioma specimens and have noted progesterone receptors to be more common than estrogen receptors in these specimens. However, a functional significance of such hormone receptor positivity in control of meningioma growth has not been described. This paper describes a paired test of the estrogen and progesterone receptor assay as the biochemical assay and of the human tumor stem-cell clonogenic assay (HTSCCA) as the functional assay in 17 meningioma specimens. Only one (6%) of the 17 specimens was estrogen receptor-positive, while 11 (69%) of 16 specimens were progesterone receptor-positive. The HTSCCA revealed that only two (15%) of 13 specimens were sensitive to estradiol while five (31%) of 16 specimens were sensitive to progesterone. Comparison of progesterone results for the 15 specimens on which both hormone receptor assay and HTSCCA were performed revealed correlation in a majority of cases; four specimens were positive for both assays and five specimens were negative for both assays. No specimen that was negative for progesterone receptors was sensitive to progesterone by HTSCCA. These results suggest that the hormone receptor and sensitivity pattern of meningiomas may differ from that of breast cancer, and that progesterone addition or ablation may be a reasonable therapeutic approach for meningiomas.     

Production of monoclonal antibodies specific to human lung cancer--squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma

Hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies specific for human lung cancer were produced by fusing immunized mouse spleen cells with mouse myeloma line 653. Methods: BALB/c mice were hyperimmunized with two different histological types of human lung cancer (squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma) obtained from surgery. An immunocytoadherence test was used to select hybridomas secreting antibodies that bound to the patient's lung tumor but did not bind to a B-lymphoblastoid cell line derived from the same patient. Five stable antibody-producing hybrids (2C6, 5D7 and 5E8 derived from squamous cell carcinoma, 5C7 and 2B7 derived from adenocarcinoma) have been established and cloned. Results: The antibodies bound to other lung tumors and established lung tumor cell lines of the same histological type. Also, some significant reactivity was observed with large cell carcinoma, but the antibodies did not react with small cell carcinoma of the lung, bronchiolo-alveolar cell carcinoma, cancer of the stomach and esophagus, melanoma, several types of leukemias, normal human lung tissue, fibroblasts, or erythrocytes of type A, B or O. Two of the five antibodies, 5C7 and 5E8 cross-reacted with one breast cancer obtained from surgery and 5C7 also cross-reacted with one melanoma biopsy specimen. Moreover, the antibodies have been characterized according to their light and heavy chain isotypes by ouchterlony and radioimmunoassay.     

Male breast carcinoma: clinical experience in a suburban community.

Male breast cancer is difficult to study because it occurs infrequently, accounting for 1% of all breast carcinoma. Breast cancer occurs 10 years later in men than in women, and its presentation parallels that in women. The authors retrospectively review 13 cases of male breast cancer occurring over a 20-year period in four community hospitals. Treatment methods paralleled those used for female cancer patients. Surgery, primarily radical mastectomy, was performed in all patients. In the eight patients in whom hormone receptor assays were obtained, all tests were positive for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, or both. Metastases were diagnosed in five patients during follow-up. The longest disease-free survival has been 10 years. Similarities and differences regarding male and female breast cancer are discussed as are the diagnosis and management of men with this disease.     

Patients presenting with lung cancer in south east Scotland. Edinburgh Lung Cancer Group.

Information was recorded prospectively on 2586 unselected patients with lung cancer seen in hospital during 1981-4. Twenty eight per cent were female and 97% were current smokers or ex-smokers. Two thirds were aged under 70 at the time of diagnosis. The cell type was known in 2117 patients (82%). In the 579 women there was a larger proportion with small cell carcinoma (29% v 21%) and adenocarcinoma (18% v 11%) but a smaller proportion with squamous cell carcinoma (38% v 52%; p less than 0.01) than among the men. The women were also significantly younger. Small cell carcinoma was also more common and squamous cell carcinoma less common in patients aged less than 60 years (p less than 0.01). Only 47 (7%) of the 651 patients diagnosed in 1981 were alive at five years; 35 of the 116 highly selected patients who underwent surgical treatment survived (30%), compared with 17% (7/42) of patients given radical radiotherapy and 1% (5/493) in the patients given palliative radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or symptomatic treatment only. The current outlook for patients with lung cancer remains very poor and the major emphasis must clearly be on prevention.     

Unusual collision tumor with infiltrating ductal carcinoma and breast skin squamous cell carcinoma: A case report and literature review

IntroductionBreast cancer is the most common diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most common type, on the other hand, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCC) overlying the breast is a rare tumor. The co-presence of two tumor types in one organ is even a rarer entity, termed as collision tumor. Only 3 known cases of collision tumor with breast invasive ductal and skin squamous carcinoma were reported in the literature.Case presentationAn otherwise medically free 91-year-old, postmenopausal, female presented with left breast fungating mass for four months. Pre-operative core tissue biopsy and incisional skin biopsy revealed two distinct tumor subtypes of invasive ductal carcinoma, positive for progesterone, estrogen receptors and negative for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, as well as skin squamous cell carcinoma, and axillary lymph node metastasis. Patient underwent left breast modified radical mastectomy and split skin grafting for wound closure. The final histopathology was consistent with grade 2 IDC. The nipple and areola complex were involved by moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Currently patient on adjuvant hormonal treatment. Follow up showed no local recurrence or distal metastasis.ConclusionCollision tumors of the breast with IDC and SCC of the overlying skin is very rare. The surgeon has to be aware of of such entity as the proper peri-operative management should be tailored to target the most aggressive histologic subtype.     

The clinicopathological features of peripheral small-sized (2 cm or less) squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

Recently the diagnosis of peripheral small-sized lung cancers has increased with the development of computed tomography. The vast majority of them are adenocarcinoma, whereas squamous cell carcinoma is rare. From 1981 to 2002, 1,054 patients underwent pulmonary resection for primary lung cancer in National Nishigunma Hospital. Among of them, 17 patients with peripheral small-sized (2 cm or less) squamous cell carcinoma underwent lobectomy and systemic nodal dissection were retrospectively reviewed. These were 15 men and 2 women, with a mean age of 68 years (range, 56-75). Regarding the pathologic stage, 15 patients were classified in stage IA, 1 in IIA, and 1 in IIIA. Among of them, only 1 patient with n 2 disease died of cancer at 17 months after surgery. Overall 5-year and 10-year survival rates of this disease were 84.4% and 73.8%, respectively. Based on the present data, we conclude that mediastinal nodal dissection would be unnecessary in the patients with peripheral small-sized squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.     

The adequate diagnostic criterion of mediastinal lymph node size for detection of metastasis in primary lung cancer

The size of lymph node is one of the most important factor in evaluation of lymph node metastasis in lung cancer. The most appropriate size for detecting lung cancer lymph node metastasis was studied by 2403 dissected lymph nodes in 75 operated cases of lung cancer. From the result of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, long-axis diameter of the lymph node showed higher accuracy of diagnosis of metastasis than short-axis diameter. Metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed more accurately than that of adenocarcinoma. The most adequate threshold for detection of metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma was 10 mm in long-axis diameter with sensitivity of 73.8% and specificity of 78%. On the other hand, that of adenocarcinoma was 7 mm in long-axis diameter with sensitivity of 65.7% and specificity of 55.9%. That threshold value of adenocarcinoma was approximate to the value of normal lymph node size in the mediastinum. It was suggested that the size for detection of lymph node metastasis was depended upon histological type, and detection of lymph node metastasis in adenocarcinoma was extremely difficult.     

Single primary lung cancer consisting of three cancer cell types (small cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma) in which each had metastasized to different lymph nodes

We report a case of a 70-year-old male smoker with a single primary tumor 2.5 x 3.0 cm in size in the right lung lower lobe. A transbronchial lung biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. We performed right lower lobectomy with lymph node dissection (ND2a). The resected specimen consisted of three different cell types; small cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (in a ratio of 70: 20: 10). Each cancer cell types had metastasized to different lymph nodes. The final diagnosis was a combined small cell carcinoma in the lung. Combined small cell carcinoma is uncommon, but is nevertheless a well-described diagnostic category in lung cancers.     

Diagnosis of lung cancer by fibreoptic bronchoscopy: problems in the histological classification of non-small cell carcinomas.

Specific cell typing in lung cancer has important implications for assessment of prognosis and the planning of treatment. Cell typing is, however, often difficult and the problem has been compounded by the universal use of the flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope, which yields specimens only 2 mm in diameter. We have reviewed the records of 107 patients who had a diagnosis of lung cancer established by fibreoptic bronchoscopy and who subsequently underwent staging biopsy or surgical resection. Examination of tissue obtained by surgical resection yielded a different cell type from that identified in specimens obtained at fibreoptic bronchoscopy in 11 of 32 patients with a bronchial biopsy specimen diagnostic of squamous cell, three of 44 patients with a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, six of seven thought to have a poorly differentiated carcinoma, and 21 of 24 patients with a diagnosis of large cell carcinoma. In all, 41 of the 107 surgically removed specimens (38%) differed in cell type from their corresponding bronchoscopic specimens. Accurate cell typing by specimens obtained at fibreoptic bronchoscopy may be extremely difficult. If clearcut morphological criteria cannot be satisfied, the diagnosis of "lung cancer, non-small cell type" should be made.     

Prognostic significance of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in resected stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: E-cadherin and its associated intracellular molecules, catenins, are important for cell-cell adhesion. Impaired expression of these molecules are frequently observed in several cancers. E-cadherin and beta-catenin are often expressed in non-small cell lung cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin and their significance as prognostic markers in pathological stage I non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Paraffin embedded tumor tissue blocks were obtained from 141 patients who underwent resection without preoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy with pathological stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Tumor samples were prepared in tissue microarrays and they were stained by immunohistochemistry with antibodies against E-cadherin and beta-catenin. The expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin were analyzed with relation to the clinico-pathological data. The median follow-up period of the patients was 41 months (range, 2-88 months). RESULTS: Preserved expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin were observed in the membrane and the cytoplasm of normal epithelial cells and tumor cells. Absent or reduced expression for E-cadherin and beta-catenin were observed in 60% and 45% of all the patients, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression (P<0.01). Absent or reduced expression of E-cadherin was observed in 72.5%, 36.6%, and 60.0% of squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, respectively. There was a significant decrease of E-cadherin expression in squamous cell carcinoma compared to adenocarcinoma (P<0.01). Patients with reduced expression of beta-catenin had poor recurrence free survival in adenocarcinoma, but not in squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Decreased expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin were closely correlated in resected stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Reduced expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin indicates tumor cell dedifferentiation and reduced expression of beta-catenin had poor recurrence free survival in adenocarcinoma of the resected stage I non-small cell lung cancer.     

Sex differences in presentation, management, and prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma

Objective And Methods: To characterize gender differences in lung cancer, we conducted a retrospective analysis including all patients undergoing surgery for non-small cell lung carcinoma in a single institution over a 20-year period. RESULTS: Compared with men (n = 839), women (n = 198) were more likely to be asymptomatic (32% vs 20%, P =.006), nonsmokers (27% vs 2%, P <.001), or light smokers (31 pack-years vs 52 pack-years; P <.001). Squamous cell carcinoma predominated in men (65%), and adenocarcinoma predominated in women (54%). Preoperative bronchoscopy contributed more frequently to a histologic diagnosis in men (69% vs 49% in women, P <.001), and fewer pneumonectomies were performed in women (22% vs 32% in men, P =.01). After multivariate Cox regression analysis, women survived longer than men (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-0. 92; P =.009) independently of age, presence of symptoms, smoking habits, type of operation, histologic characteristics, and stage of disease. The protective effect linked to female sex was present in early-stage carcinoma (stage I and II) and absent in more advanced-stage carcinoma (stage III and IV). CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes strong sex differences in presentation, management, and prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.     

A case and review of bowel perforation secondary to metastatic lung cancer

Gastrointestinal tract perforation (GITP) secondary to metastatic lung cancer is extremely rare. We present a case of small bowel perforation secondary to metastatic lung cancer. The objective of this study was to review the current literature and further characterize the incidence, histology, and risk of GITP secondary to lung cancer metastasis. A Medline search was done to identify all the cases of GITP attributed to metastatic lung cancer reported in the literature. Data was collected and analyzed from a collection of cases in the medical literature since 1960. We identified 98 cases of perforated lung cancer metastasis to the small intestine. Four gastric perforations, three colonic perforations, and one appendiceal perforation were also identified but not analyzed. The mean age was 64.5 years. There was a male predominance of 89 per cent versus 11 per cent female. Perforations occurred most often in the jejunum (53%) followed by ileum (28%). Combined jejunum-ileum lesions accounted for 4 per cent of perforations. No duodenal perforations were reported, though a specific site was not determined in 13 per cent of cases. Small bowel perforations were most often caused by adenocarcinoma (23.7%), squamous cell carcinoma (22.7%), large cell carcinoma (20.6%), and small cell carcinoma (19.6%). The prevalence of small bowel perforation secondary to a given primary lung cancer histology varied by region. The mean survival was 66 days with 50 per cent of patients not surviving past 30 days. Despite a high incidence of lung cancer, small bowel perforation secondary to lung cancer metastasis remains relatively rare. Perforated metastases occur more often in men and are found more commonly in the jejunum. Small bowel perforations are caused most often by adenocarcinoma; however, squamous cell and large cell carcinoma metastases are more likely to result in perforation. Small bowel perforation in this setting has a significant impact on mortality, decreasing 1-year survival to less than 3 per cent.     

Poor prognosis after lung resection for patients with adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the prognosis of adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung after lung resection in comparison with other types of carcinoma. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients who underwent lung resection for lung cancer. RESULTS: Surgical outcomes for 30 patients with adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung, who were treated between 1976 and 1998, were compared with the surgical results for 1,219 patients similarly treated for adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma during the same period. Adenosquamous carcinoma comprised only 2.1% of 1,408 lung cancer cases treated by resection. The overall cumulative 5-year survival rate was only 6.2% for the patients with adenosquamous carcinoma, indicating a significantly poorer prognosis than for adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The cumulative survival rate for patients with adenosquamous carcinoma in pathologic stages IA to IIB was similar to that of patients with stage IIIA adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.