Adenocarcinoma of the lung pathophysiology
Adenocarcinoma of the Lung Microchapters |
Differentiating Adenocarcinoma of the Lung from other Diseases |
---|
Diagnosis |
Treatment |
Case Studies |
Adenocarcinoma of the lung pathophysiology On the Web |
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Adenocarcinoma of the lung pathophysiology |
Risk calculators and risk factors for Adenocarcinoma of the lung pathophysiology |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shanshan Cen, M.D. [2]
Overview
Pathogenesis
- Adenocarcinoma of the lung tends to stain mucin positive as it is derived from the mucus producing glands of the lungs. Similar to other adenocarcinoma, if this tumor is well differentiated (low grade) it will resemble the normal glandular structure. Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma will not resemble the normal glands (high grade) and will be detected by seeing that they stain positive for mucin (which the glands produce).[1]
- To reveal the adenocarcinomatous lineage of the solid variant, demonstration of intracellular mucin production may be performed. Foci of squamous metaplasia and dysplasia may be present in the epithelium proximal to adenocarcinomas, but these are not the precursor lesions for this tumor. Rather, the precursor of peripheral adenocarcinomas has been termed atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH). Microscopically, AAH is a well-demarcated focus of epithelial proliferation, containing cuboidal to low-columnar cells resembling club cells or type II pneumocytes. These demonstrate various degrees of cytologic atypia, including hyperchromasia, pleomorphism, prominent nucleoli. Lesions of AAH are monoclonal, and they share many of the molecular aberrations that are associated with adenocarcinomas.[2]
Genetics
Chromosomal rearrangements
Three membrane associated tyrosine kinase receptors are recurrently involved in rearrangements in adenocarcinomas: ALK, ROS1, and RET, and more than eighty other translocations have also been reported in adenocarcinomas of the lung.[3]
Gene mutations
Common gene mutations in pulmonary adenocarcinoma affect many genes, including EGFR (20%), HER2 (2%), KRAS, ALK, BRAF, PIK3CA, MET (1%, associated with resistant disease), and ROS1. Most of these genes are kinases, and can be mutated in different ways, including amplification.[4]
Gross Pathology
- Peripheral lesions
- May be multifocal
-
Adenocarcinoma of the lung[5]
Microscopic Pathology
- Nuclear atypia
- Eccentrically placed nuclei
- Abundant cytoplasm
- Often conspicuous nucleoli
- Nuclear pseudoinclusions
- Lack of intercellular bridges
References
- ↑ Stewart, Bernard (2014). World cancer report 2014. Lyon, France Geneva, Switzerland: International Agency for Research on Cancer,Distributed by WHO Press, World Health Organization. ISBN 9283204298.
- ↑ Kumar, Vinay (2007). Robbins basic pathology. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier. ISBN 1416029737.
- ↑ http://atlasgeneticsoncology.org/Tumors/TranslocLungAdenocarcID6751.html
- ↑ Stewart, Bernard (2014). World cancer report 2014. Lyon, France Geneva, Switzerland: International Agency for Research on Cancer,Distributed by WHO Press, World Health Organization. ISBN 9283204298.
- ↑ Adenocarcinoma of the lung. Librepathology 2015. http://librepathology.org/wiki/index.php/File:Adenocarcinoma_%283950819000%29.jpg
- ↑ Acinar adenocarcinoma. Librepathology 2015. http://librepathology.org/wiki/index.php/File:Adenocarcinoma_%283950819000%29.jpg
- ↑ Mucinous adenocarcinoma. Librepathology 2015. http://librepathology.org/wiki/index.php/File:Adenocarcinoma_%283950819000%29.jpg