If these are all negative in a tumor with the histologic appearance of SCC, electron microscopy can be performed to look for neurosecretory granules. Thus, given the low specificity and sensitivity of immunohistochemical markers and frequent lack of neurosecretory granules, the diagnosis of SCC rests heavily on routine histology and cytology. However, when SCCs are studied by electron microscopy, features of adenocarcinoma or squamous carcinoma may be present. While some of the changes might be related to therapy, in some cases no therapy was given. In the present case, squamous and glandular differentiation were found in the initial resected specimen.
Mice lacking the gene develop no neuroendocrine cells in the respiratory tract.
Further, treatment of cultured SCC cell lines with a missense version of the gene results in loss of some neuroendocrine features. Hinson J, Perry M. Small cell lung cancer. Hirsch F, Matthews M, Yesner R. Histopathologic classification of small cell carcinoma of the lung. Comments based on an interobserver examination. Fraire A, Johnson E, Yesner R, Zhang X, Spjut H, Greenberg S. Prognostic significance of histopathologic subtype and stage in small cell lung cancer.