SCLC subtypes defined by ASCL1, NEUROD1, POU2F3, and YAP1: A comprehensive immunohistochemical and histopathologic characterization Journal Article


Authors: Baine, M. K.; Hsieh, M. S.; Lai, W. V.; Egger, J. V.; Jungbluth, A. A.; Daneshbod, Y.; Beras, A.; Spencer, R.; Lopardo, J.; Bodd, F.; Montecalvo, J.; Sauter, J. L.; Chang, J. C.; Buonocore, D. J.; Travis, W. D.; Sen, T.; Poirier, J. T.; Rudin, C. M.; Rekhtman, N.
Article Title: SCLC subtypes defined by ASCL1, NEUROD1, POU2F3, and YAP1: A comprehensive immunohistochemical and histopathologic characterization
Abstract: Introduction: Recent studies have identified subtypes of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) defined by the RNA expression of ASCL1, NEUROD1, POU2F3, and YAP1 transcriptional regulators. There are only limited data on the distribution of these markers at the protein level and associated pathologic characteristics in clinical SCLC samples. Methods: The expression of ASCL1, NEUROD1, POU2F3, and YAP1 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 174 patient samples with SCLC. Subtypes defined by these markers were correlated with histologic characteristics, expression of classic neuroendocrine markers (synaptophysin, chromogranin A, CD56, INSM1), and other SCLC markers, including the neuroendocrine phenotype-associated markers TTF-1 and DLL3. Results: ASCL1 and NEUROD1 expression had the following distribution: (1) 41% ASCL1+/NEUROD1−; (2) 37% ASCL1+/NEUROD1+; (3) 8% ASCL1−/NEUROD1+; and (4) 14% ASCL1−/NEUROD1−. On the basis of their relative expression, 69% of cases were ASCL1-dominant and 17% were NEUROD1-dominant. POU2F3 was expressed in 7% of SCLC and was mutually exclusive of ASCL1 and NEUROD1. YAP1 was expressed at low levels, primarily in combined SCLC, and was not exclusive of other subtypes. Both ASCL1-dominant and NEUROD1-dominant subtypes were associated with neuroendocrine markerhigh/TTF-1high/DLL3high profile, whereas POU2F3 and other ASCL1/NEUROD1 double-negative tumors were neuroendocrine markerlow/TTF-1low/DLL3low. Conclusions: This is the first comprehensive immunohistochemical and histopathologic analysis of novel SCLC subtypes in patient samples. We confirm that ASCL1/NEUROD1 double-negative tumors represent a distinct neuroendocrine-low subtype of SCLC, which is either uniquely associated with POU2F3 or lacks a known dominant regulator. The expression profiles of these markers appear more heterogeneous in native samples than in experimental models, particularly with regard to the high prevalence of ASCL1/NEUROD1 coexpression. These findings may have prognostic and therapeutic implications and warrant further clinical investigation. © 2020 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
Keywords: yap1; small cell lung carcinoma; neuroendocrine; ascl1; neurod1; pou2f3
Journal Title: Journal of Thoracic Oncology
Volume: 15
Issue: 12
ISSN: 1556-0864
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 2020-12-01
Start Page: 1823
End Page: 1835
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2020.09.009
PUBMED: 33011388
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8362797
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 4 January 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Natasha Rekhtman
    424 Rekhtman
  2. William D Travis
    743 Travis
  3. Achim Jungbluth
    454 Jungbluth
  4. Charles Rudin
    488 Rudin
  5. John Thomas Poirier
    82 Poirier
  6. Jason Chih-Peng Chang
    134 Chang
  7. Wei-Chu Victoria Lai
    59 Lai
  8. Jennifer Lynn Sauter
    124 Sauter
  9. Amanda Marie Beras
    12 Beras
  10. Jacklynn V Egger
    68 Egger
  11. Triparna Sen
    56 Sen
  12. Francis M Bodd
    21 Bodd
  13. Marina K Baine
    51 Baine