p63 isoforms in lung neoplasms: Tissue microarray and immunohistochemical studies

Purpose To detect the expression of p63 isoforms (TAp63, △Np63) in 4 types of lung neoplasms and to gain insight their biological significance in carcinogenesis of lung neoplasm. Methods One hundred and eighty-three formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cases of lung neoplasms and 30 matched surroundings specimens as control were examined for p63, TAp63 and △Np63 protein expression by imunohistochemistry using tissue microarray. Results The expression of the three protein in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), adenocarcinomas (AC), bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) and small cell lung carcinomas (SCLC) were closely correlated with each other (r0.75,P0.01) and all significantly higher in SCC than the other types (P0.01). The matched surrounding tissues only showed nuclear p63 immunoreactivity in basal cells and myoepithelium of bronchi mucosal glands. The expression was not correlated with clinicopathological characteristics. Conclusions p63 plays a great role in the carcinogenesis of lung SCC, and TAp63/△Np63 may both display certain function. These results may also help distinguish SCC from other three types of lung neoplasms in diagnostic pathology.