Expression of nse and pgp-9.5 in nonsmall-cell lung-cancers.

In NSCLC, neuron-specific; enolase (NSE) and protein-gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) were found in 12/14 squamous carcinomas, 1/1 large cell carcinomas and 2/10 adenocarcinomas in characteristic zonal patterns. PGP 9.5 was expressed predominantly in PCNA positive cells adjacent to blood vessels, while the greatest intensity of NSE stain was located in PCNA negative cells distant from vessels, in the centre of tumour masses. NSE expression was unrelated to the distribution of squamous cytokeratins 10 and 13. These studies suggest that expression of PGP 9.5 and NSE in NSCLC may be related to the proliferative or metabolic status of tumour cells.