Expression of intermediate filaments in neuroendocrine tumors

Expression of 160-kilodalton (kd) neurofilament, cytokeratin, and vimentin was immunohistochemically investigated in 45 pheochromocytomas, 12 medullary thyroid carcinomas, and 12 pancreatic islet cell tumors. Four mixed neuroendocrine-neural tumors, two multiple endocrine neoplasia type I tumors, and two multiple endocrine neoplasia type II tumors were included in this study. Neurofilament immunoreactivity was demonstrated in 45 (100%) of the pheochromocytomas, 10 (83%) of the medullary thyroid carcinomas, and 11 (92%) of the islet cell tumors. Cytokeratin and vimentin were detectable in 29% and 24% of the pheochromocytomas, 100% and 25% of the medullary thyroid carcinomas, and 67% and 25% of the islet cell tumors, respectively. Neurofilament was the most frequently detected intermediate filament in the neuroendocrine tumors. Cytokeratin was seen in the intra-adrenal but not the extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas. Coexpression of neurofilament and cytokeratin was common in the neuroendocrine tumors, and occasionally vimentin was also expressed simultaneously. There were no characteristic differences in the expression of intermediate filaments between multiple endocrine neoplasia type I or II tumors and sporadic-type tumors or between metastatic tumors and nonmetastatic tumors.