Napsin A expression in primary mucin-producing adenocarcinomas of the lung: an immunohistochemical study

Am J Clin Pathol. 2013 Feb;139(2):160-6. doi: 10.1309/AJCP62WJUAMSZCOM.

Abstract

Immunohistochemical expression of napsin A in primary pulmonary mucinous tumors is not well established. Napsin A immunoreactivity was evaluated in 43 mucin-producing adenocarcinomas of the lung consisting of 18 tumors formerly classified as mucinous bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, 15 colloid adenocarcinomas, 5 solid predominant adenocarcinomas with mucin production, and 5 adenocarcinomas with signet ring cell features, as well as in 25 extrapulmonary mucinous adenocarcinomas of different anatomic sites. Immunohistochemical expression of thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) was also compared. Thirty-three percent of mucinous lung tumors exhibited positive immunoreactivity for napsin A, whereas 42% expressed TTF-1. All 25 extrapulmonary mucinous adenocarcinomas lacked expression of napsin A and TTF-1. Mucin-producing neoplasms of the lung infrequently express napsin A, suggesting that immunohistochemical assessment of napsin A may have limited diagnostic usefulness for distinguishing primary and metastatic mucinous adenocarcinomas involving the lung.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Transcription Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • TTF1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • NAPSA protein, human