NETL: Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A clinical, pathological and molecular study of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours
IRAS ID
205586
Contact name
Anne Marie Quinn
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Lung neuroendocrine tumours are a subset of lung cancers which are identified by expression of selected neuroendocrine molecules. They are classified into high grade carcinomas (small cell carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC)), as well as carcinoid tumours, regarded as low to intermediate grade malignancies. The correct histological diagnosis is necessary for the prediction of patient survival and whether the patient will undergo surgical resection or chemo/radiotherapy. It is often difficult for pathologists to subclassify this group of tumours, particularly LCNEC, when the appearances identified on microscopy overlap with those of other tumours. This diagnostic difficulty is magnified when dealing with small tumour specimens obtained from biopsy and cytology.
This study aims to initially review a range of resected (large specimen) pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours retrieved from the histology archives, and correlate morphological features (seen on hematoxylin and eosin stains), immunohistochemical expression patterns and molecular findings, with clinical outcomes, in order to further refine diagnostic criteria beyond current World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria. The results from this study will then be tested on small specimens such as biopsies and aspirates to examine if the same criteria can be used for such specimens.
As a part of the study, we will also examine precursor growths of neuroendocrine cells (pre-neoplastic neuroendocrine lesions) such as DIPNECH (diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine hyperplasia) using immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and molecular techniques, and the findings from the precursor lesions will be compared with those from tumours and reactive lesions as well as normal lung neuroendocrine cells of adults. The results would be useful given that it is often difficult to distinguish between pre-cancerous and reactive neuroendocrine hyperplasia, and even between preneoplastic/pre-cancerous hyperplasia and metastatic neuroendocrine tumour deposits.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SC/0467
Date of REC Opinion
26 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion