Common Neuroendocrine Markers Research Articles

Expression and clinical significance of a new neuroendocrine marker secretagogin in cervical neuroendocrine carcinoma

AimsTo explore the expression of secretagogin (SCGN) in neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix and analyse its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.MethodsFrom January 2010 to December 2017, 44 patients...

Current status of the histopathological assessment, diagnosis, and reporting of colorectal neuroendocrine tumors: A Web survey from the Japanese Society for Cancer of Colon and Rectum.

Although new classifications for neuroendocrine tumors were established by the World Health Organization, the current procedures and terms used in pathology laboratories are not known. A Web-based questionnaire was distributed to 491 institutions affiliated with the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum, and 150 participated. The questionnaires included questions regarding routine pathological reporting, staining, and assessment of neuroendocrine tumors. Next, the time taken to assess Ki-67 index and mitotic count according to recommendation was evaluated to determine its feasibility. Most laboratories recorded diagnostic term, depth of invasion, size, lymph-vascular invasion, Ki-67 index, and mitotic count. However, only 32.2% reported tumor stage. Chromogranin A and synaptophysin were common neuroendocrine markers. D2-40 and elastica stain were frequently used to confirm lymph-vascular invasion. Only 62.1% counted more than 500 cells for the Ki-67 index, and only 17.0% counted more than 50 fields for the mitotic count, as suggested by the recommendations. Median time of 7 cases was 18.0 and 27.3 min to assess mitotic count in 50 fields with Ki-67 index in 500 and 2000 cells, respectively. For more standardized pathological reporting, education about standardized staging systems are needed in Japan. Practical and standardized procedures for mitotic index and Ki-67 index are also required.

Recurrent primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation: case report and review of the literature

We report the case of a 60-year-old woman presenting with primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma (PCMC) with neuroendocrine differentiation, revealed by neuroendocrine tumor lymph node metastasis 7 years before identification of the skin tumor. Only five cases of PCMC with neuroendocrine differentiation have been reported to date. The frequency of this neuroendocrine component may be underestimated, as it can require immunohistochemistry for identification, rather than being obvious on initial histopathologic examination. In the case presented here, the prominent neuroendocrine component displayed the morphological features of a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor with expression of common neuroendocrine markers, strong expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and low Ki67 proliferation index (5%). This case shows that not all primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinomas are Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs). In addition to rare primary cutaneous carcinoid tumors, the diagnosis of PCMC with neuroendocrine differentiation must be considered, particularly when confronted by a mucinous tumor or lymph node metastases of neuroendocrine carcinoma of unknown origin. On the basis of this case, identification of a neuroendocrine component in a PCMC might be an adverse prognostic indicator of recurrence or of lymph node metastasis and should support wider excision margins of the tumor.

P15 Prevalence and clinicopathological correlation of carcinoid in appendectomy specimens in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Background: Carcinoid tumors are rare but considered to be one of the commonest tumors in the appendix. Their incidence has been shown to vary in different studies. Aims, setting & design: This seminal study was carried out to determine the incidence and clinico-pathological profile of appendiceal carcinoids in a cohort of patients undergoing emergency appendicectomies for clinically suspected acute appendicitis in Emirate of Sharjah. Material and methods: The study included the retrospective data of 964 patients operated for clinically suspected appendicitis, the resected specimens of whom were received in the Pathology laboratory of Al-Qasmi hospital Sharjah from January 2010 to December 2010. Results: Out of the 964 patients 9 (0.93%) were found to have appendiceal carcinoids. The mean age was 28.7 years with a male to female ratio of 2 :1. Eight tumors were located near the tip of appendix with mean diameter of 3.3 mm. All tumors were found to be positive for chromogranin A, synaptophysin and neuron-specific enolase on immunohistochemistry (IHC). None of the patients had recurrence or any reportable complications in the short follow up period (12–26 months). Conclusions: Our study found higher incidence of appendiceal carcinoids in patients undergoing emergency appendectomy for acute appendicitis in Emirate of Sharjah compared to two previous studies from the same geographical region. Moreover, tumors were found more commonly in young males in contrary to previous studies and all the tumors were positive for common neuroendocrine markers.

P.20.8 ENDOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF POSTSURGICAL BILE DUCT INJURES

Background: Carcinoid tumors are rare but considered to be one of the commonest tumors in the appendix. Their incidence has been shown to vary in different studies. Aims, setting & design: This seminal study was carried out to determine the incidence and clinico-pathological profile of appendiceal carcinoids in a cohort of patients undergoing emergency appendicectomies for clinically suspected acute appendicitis in Emirate of Sharjah. Material and methods: The study included the retrospective data of 964 patients operated for clinically suspected appendicitis, the resected specimens of whom were received in the Pathology laboratory of Al-Qasmi hospital Sharjah from January 2010 to December 2010. Results: Out of the 964 patients 9 (0.93%) were found to have appendiceal carcinoids. The mean age was 28.7 years with a male to female ratio of 2 :1. Eight tumors were located near the tip of appendix with mean diameter of 3.3 mm. All tumors were found to be positive for chromogranin A, synaptophysin and neuron-specific enolase on immunohistochemistry (IHC). None of the patients had recurrence or any reportable complications in the short follow up period (12–26 months). Conclusions: Our study found higher incidence of appendiceal carcinoids in patients undergoing emergency appendectomy for acute appendicitis in Emirate of Sharjah compared to two previous studies from the same geographical region. Moreover, tumors were found more commonly in young males in contrary to previous studies and all the tumors were positive for common neuroendocrine markers.

Prevalence and clinicopathological characteristics of appendiceal carcinoids in Sharjah (United Arab Emirates).

To determine the incidence and clinico-pathological profile of appendiceal carcinoids in a cohort of patients undergoing emergency appendicectomies for clinically suspected acute appendicitis in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study included the retrospective data of 964 patients operated for clinically suspected acute appendicitis, and the resected specimens were received at Al-Qasmi Hospital (Sharjah) from January 2010 to December 2010. The data of the patients who were histologically reported to have carcinoid tumors of the appendix were extensively evaluated for the patient's demographics, indication for surgery, surgical procedure, tumor localization in the appendix, diameter of the lesion, concomitant appendicitis, immunohistochemistry studies and clinical follow-up. Out of the 964 patients included in the study, 9 (0.93%) were found to have appendiceal carcinoids. The mean age reported was 28.7 years with a male to female ratio of 2:1. Eight tumors were located near the tip of the appendix with a mean diameter of 3.3 mm, while the remaining one was near the proximal end of the appendix. All the cases were associated with concomitant suppurative appendicitis. In seven reported cases, tumors were confined to the muscular layer while in one case each there was an extension to the serosa and mesoappendix, respectively. All tumors were found to be positive for chromogranin A, synaptophysin and neuron-specific enolase on immunohistochemistry but negative for cytokeratin-7. None of the patients developed recurrence or any reportable complications in the short follow-up period (12-26 mo) that was arranged as a six-monthly re-evaluation by abdominal ultrasonography. Our study found a higher incidence of appendiceal carcinoids in patients undergoing emergency appendectomy for acute appendicitis in Sharjah, UAE compared to two previous studies from the Persian Gulf region. Interestingly, tumors were found to be more commonly in young males, which is in contrast to previous studies. Moreover, all the tumors were positive for common neuroendocrine markers.

Some etiopathogenetic and diagnostic considerations in neuroendocrine tumors, with particular attention to those in urology

Some aetiopathogenetic and diagnostic considerations about the neuro-endocrine tumours, with particular attention to those pertinent of urology.Some neuroendocrine tumours (NET) occur in hereditary-familial neoplastic syndromes such as MEN (multiple endocrine neoplasias) or neuroectodermic dysplasias (neurofibromatosis-NF1, von Hippel Lindau disease, pheochromocytoma-chemodectoma familial syndrome, etc.) while others arise as solitary-isolated tumours such as those of gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, lung, skin, genitourinary system. The diagnostics of NET implies plasmatic assay of common neuroendocrine markers and specific peptide hormones, and more properly, their immuno-histochemical characterisation, together with molecular-genetic studies. Several gene alterations (MEN1, RET, NF1, VDL, SDH-B and -D) are associated with pheochromocytoma, showing that almost 25% of subjects with apparent-sporadic pheochromocytoma at the sheer clinical examination, are actually syndromic-familial pheochromocytoma patients at the genetic testing. The functional imaging provides intriguing data regarding not only the diagnostics but also the assessment of tumour response to the therapy. This paper aims to review the literature on morphological, functional as well as biological features of NET and to briefly summarize the recent advances in their diagnosis, with particular attention to those pertinent the urology.

Normal and PPP-affected palmoplantar sweat gland express neuroendocrine markers chromogranins and synaptophysin differently

Earlier findings indicate the acrosyringium as the target for the inflammation in the chronic and intensely inflammatory skin disease palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP). The sweat gland apparatus seems to be an immune-competent structure that probably contributes to the defence of the skin. Furthermore, the sweat gland and duct may be a hitherto unrecognized neuroendocrine organ because it expresses cholineacetyl-transferase and acetylcholinesterase, nicotinic receptors, beta-adrenergic and angiotensin receptors. The aim of this study was to obtain further information about neuroendocrine properties of the sweat gland apparatus by examining the expression of common neuroendocrine markers synaptophysin and chromogranins A and B in healthy palmar skin and in PPP skin. Synaptophysin and chromogranins were expressed in the sweat glands and ducts with some variation in the pattern and intensity of the expression. In PPP skin the expression differed, being higher and lower, depending on the part of the sweat duct. Chromogranins were further expressed in the epidermis, endothelium and inflammatory cells, but its intensity was weaker in epidermis than in the sweat gland apparatus. In most cases, chromogranins in epidermis in involved PPP were weakly expressed compared to healthy controls. The presence of synaptophysin and chromogranins in palmoplantar skin may have marked neuroendocrine effects, and the palmoplantar skin is likely to have important neuroimmuno-endocrine properties. Moreover, the altered chromogranin expression in PPP skin might influence both the neuroendocrine and neuroimmunologic properties of palmoplantar skin in these patients. These results indicate important neuroendocrine properties of the palmoplantar skin.

Epidemiology of non‐gastroenteropancreatic (neuro)endocrine tumours

The widespread availability and reliability of immunohistochemical techniques in the last three decades have allowed researchers to identify cells with common neuroendocrine markers in virtually every organ. As a whole, these neuroendocrine cells form the so-called diffuse neuroendocrine system. Tumours arising from the cells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system are defined as (neuro)endocrine tumours (NETs). NETs have been increasingly described in recent years. However, despite the increase in the number of published papers focused on NET, we still lack adequate epidemiological data, particularly for non-gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) NETs. Furthermore, the real incidence of neuroendocrine differentiation for most sites is not completely known and is probably underestimated. As a consequence, data on the clinical features of many NET subgroups are not well known or confusing. For all of these reasons, we have attempted to evaluate the epidemiology of non-GEP NETs, reviewing the limited data available in the literature.

Establishment and characterization of cell lines from human small cell and large cell carcinomas of the lung.

Five new small cell carcinomas (SCC) cell lines and a large cell carcinoma (LCC) cell line were established from human lung cancers. The SCC cell lines had, as a group, common phenotypic properties which distinguished them from non-SCC cell lines. However, the studies also revealed a considerable biological heterogeneity among the individual SCC cell lines. Thus, the SCC cell lines had a typical growth pattern with cell clusters in suspension or partly adherent to the bottom. All the lines examined grew in agarose with variable cloning efficiencies, and all but one line formed tumors subcutaneously in nude mice. The ultrastructure of the SCC cell lines was characteristic with dense core granules at a variable frequency. Neuron-specific enolase was detectable in all SCC cell lines, usually in large amounts, and an inconstant production of a spectrum of polypeptide hormones was found, typical of SCC. The LCC cells proliferated in monolayers, formed colonies in agarose and grew in nude mice. Ultrastructurally, the LCC cell line differed from the SCC cell lines in having intra- and intercellular lumina and tonofilaments. The capacity of the LCC and a previously established squamous cell carcinoma cell line (U-1752) to produce neuron-specific enolase and polypeptide hormones was characteristically much lower than that of the SCC cell lines. We conclude from this study that SCC cell lines, although individually distinct from one another, are quite homogeneous as a group in expressing a set of basic common neuro-endocrine markers. However, these studies also suggest some biological relationship between SCC, LCC and SQC by virtue of their expression of some common neuro-endocrine markers, in support of the concept of a common histogenetic origin of human lung cancers.