Expression of neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN) in epithelial neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Expression of neuronal nuclei (NeuN), a mouse-derived neuronal-specific monoclonal antibody, has been found in almost all neuronal cell types throughout the nervous system. The authors have demonstrated NeuN immunoreactivity in 56% of epithelial neuroendocrine carcinomas (ENEC) (19/34): 4 of 7 (57%) grade 1 ENECs (carcinoid), 4 of 5 (90%) grade 2 ENECs (atypical carcinoid), and 11 of 22 (50%) grade 3 ENECs (small and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma). Of the NeuN-positive cases, the immunoreactivity was localized primarily in the cytoplasm in 11 cases and in the nucleus in the remaining. Even though NeuN is not a highly sensitive marker for solo use, it would be useful as an adjunct in the panel immunohisto- chemistry of cases with histologic features suspicious of neuroendocrine differentiation.