Expression of epithelial and neural antigens in small cell and non small cell lung carcinoma

Seventy-one lung carcinomas from 66 different patients were stained with a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Twenty-nine were small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), 15 adenocarcinomas, 17 squamous carcinomas and 10 large cell carcinomas. Three of the monoclonal antibodies recognize different cytokeratins, three recognize other epithelial antigens and one recognizes a neural antigen. Both formalin-fixed and cryopreserved tumours were studied using an indirect immunoperoxidase method. 23/29 SCLC reacted with all but one of the antibodies which recognize epithelial antigens. This staining was similar to that seen in non small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) and provides further evidence that SCLC are true epithelial tumours. All but one of the SCLC stained with the antibody recognizing a neural antigen. This antibody did not stain squamous or adenocarcinomas. However, four of the large cell carcinomas stained well with this antibody, suggesting that SCLC and some large cell carcinomas share a common pathway of differentiation. There were variations of staining seen both within and between tumours. This has obvious implications if immunotargetting with monoclonal antibodies is to be used diagnostically or therapeutically.