2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Posters)-EP06.05. STAS and Expression of EMT-markers in Surgically Resected Lung Pleomorphic Carcinomas

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The study investigated the presence of spread through air spaces (STAS) and the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) markers in surgically resected lung pleomorphic carcinomas. Pleomorphic carcinoma (PC) is a rare type of lung cancer characterized by a component resembling sarcomas. EMT mechanisms, which involve the increased expression of mesenchymal markers like vimentin and decreased expression of epithelial markers like E-cadherin, are believed to play a role in the formation of PC. The study aimed to determine the incidence of STAS in PC, the relationship between EMT marker expression and STAS, and the prognostic significance of these factors.<br /><br />The study included 99 patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer between 2000-2019. The researchers performed morphological analysis and immunohistochemical study to analyze the expression of E-cadherin and vimentin. They also conducted statistical analysis of clinical and pathological data and used overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) as clinical indicators.<br /><br />The results showed that STAS was present in approximately 39% of patients. The expression of E-cadherin was stronger in the epithelial component compared to the sarcomatous component, while vimentin expression was higher in the sarcomatous component. There was no direct relationship between STAS frequency and individual EMT markers, but the intermediate group (expressing both E-cadherin and vimentin) had a higher STAS frequency.<br /><br />STAS was found to be prognostic for DFS, with patients having worse DFS in univariate analysis. Patients with STAS also tended to have poorer overall survival but the relationship was not statistically significant. The expression of EMT markers and EMT phenotype did not directly impact OS and DFS in univariate analysis, but the intermediate group had worse DFS in multivariate analysis. Additionally, patients with both STAS and the mesenchymal phenotype had worse OS and DFS compared to those without STAS.<br /><br />In conclusion, the study found that co-expression of E-cadherin and vimentin in pleomorphic lung carcinoma is associated with increased STAS frequency. The mesenchymal immunophenotype may also be a negative prognostic factor in patients with STAS. However, due to the small study group, further research is needed to validate these findings.

Asset Subtitle

Renata Langfort

Meta Tag

Speaker Renata Langfort

Topic Pathology & Biomarkers

Keywords

spread through air spaces

STAS

epithelial-mesenchymal transformation

EMT markers

surgically resected

lung pleomorphic carcinomas

pleomorphic carcinoma

sarcomas

E-cadherin

vimentin