European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

CD44 AND CD117 EXPRESSION IN DIFFERENTIATING NON SMALL CELL LUNG CARCINOMA AND SMALL CELL LUNG CARCINOMA

Arushi Goel*, Sumiti Gupta, Agam Goel and Nishtha Gupta

ABSTRACT

Lung carcinoma is one of the leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. According to WHO classification
it is divided broadly on the basis of origin- epithelial(non small cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma),
mesenchymal, lymphohistiocytic and ectopic origin. Histopathological examination using routine H and E staining
is the basic step for diagnosis of lung carcinoma. Due to emerging subtypes of lung carcinoma, problems faced
with biopsies (size, artifacts etc) and nature of tumor, it is required for early and accurate diagnosis even with less
tissue. Thus, immunohistochemistry plays important role in not only diagnosing but also differentiating between
various subtypes. Along with already proven panel of biomarkers like TTF-1, p63 for non small cell carcinoma
and chromogranin and CD56 for small cell lung carcinoma, two new biomarkers CD44 and CD117 also help in
not only diagnosing but also differentiating between these two carcinomas.

Keywords: immunohistochemistry, biomarkers, lung carcinoma.