Biological characterization of central and peripheral primary Non Small Cell Lung Cancers (NSCLC)

Background: Non Small Cell Lung Carcinomas (NSCLC) compise 90% of all lung carcinomas. Studies have demonstrated a preferential central (bronchus-derived) localization for squamous cells, whereas adenocarcinomas are frequently peripheral (bronchiolo-alveolus derived). It has been suggested that exposure to carcinogenic insults including cigarette smoke, may induce different types of tumors in different locations. Materials and Methods: Forty one NSCLC patients staged according to WHO and TNM were considered for localization and biological parameters (p53 expression, cell ploidy and S-phase). Results: p53 overexpression was found more frequently in central than in peripheral tumors (69% vs 39%) (p = 0.074). Central tumors were more aneuploid (69%) than peripheral ones (46%) (p = 0.03). No difference in smoking habit was observed in the two groups. Conclusions: Our results suggest that there is no apparent biological difference between these two groups of NSCLCs, and that the smoking does not play a role in either histotype determination or biological behaviour.