Adenocarcinoma of the lung pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Trusha Tank, M.D.[2], Shanshan Cen, M.D. [3], Sudarshana Datta, MD [4]

Overview

Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer found in non-smokers and is usually seen as a peripheral lesion in the lungs. In the past several years, many genetic and environmental factors have been identified as causative factors for lung cancer. Individual susceptibility, active smoking, radon exposure, exposure to high pollution levels, asbestos exposure, occupational or environmental exposure to particular agents, and carcinogens contribute to the development of adenocarcinoma of the lung. Hydrocarbons cause damage to the DNA and form DNA adducts. Genes involved in the pathogenesis of adenocarcinoma of the lung include EGFR, HER2, KRAS, ALK, and BRAF. On gross pathology, peripheral multifocal single or multiple solid firm yellow-white nodule or mass which may invade into the pleura and cause pleural retraction/puckering. Adenocarcinoma usually does not form a cavitary lesion. It may present as a diffuse pleural thickening resembling malignant mesothelioma. On microscopic histopathological analysis, nuclear atypia, eccentrically placed nuclei, abundant cytoplasm, and conspicuous nucleoli are characteristic findings of adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Pathophysiology

Pathogenesis

• Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer found in non-smokers and is usually seen as a peripheral lesion in the lungs, as compared to centrally located tumors such as small cell lung cancer and squamous cell lung cancer.
• Lung cancer pathogenesis can be understood with the help of the following hypotheses:
• Familial Lung Cancer:
  • 6q23–25 locus has been identified as a susceptibility gene for familial lung cancer.

• Multistep Tumorigenesis:
  • Tumors of organs such as skin, lung, and colon are developed through a process called multistep tumorigenesis.
  • As with other epithelial malignancies, lung cancers are believed to arise from preneoplastic or precursor lesions in the respiratory mucosa.
  • Multistep tumorigenesis is the development of tumor through a series of progressive pathologic events such as preneoplastic or precursor lesions with corresponding genetic and epigenetic aberrations.
  • Hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, squamous dysplasia, and carcinoma in situ (CIS) comprise changes in the large airways that precede or accompany invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.
  • Multistep tumorigenesis explains pathogenesis of centrally located squamous cell carcinoma of the lung very well but fails to explain pathogenesis of large cell lung carcinomas, lung adenocarcinomas, and small cell lung cancer.

• Accumulation of Molecular Abnormalities:
  • Another theory for pathogenesis of lung cancer is the accumulation of molecular abnormalities beyond a certain threshold point, rather than the sequence of alterations.
  • There are no known preneoplastic lesions for the most common type of neuroendocrine lung tumors and small cell carcinoma of the lung,
  • Atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) is the only sequence of morphologic change identified leading to the development of invasive adenocarcinoma of the lung.
• Pathogenesis of lung cancer is thought to be the result of both step-wise, sequence-specific and multistage molecular pathogenesis and accumulation and combination of genetic and epigenetic abnormalities.

Field of Injury and Field Cancerization

• Preneoplastic lung lesions frequently extend throughout the respiratory epithelium, indicating a field effect in which much of the respiratory epithelium has been mutagenized, presumably from exposure to tobacco-related carcinogens.
• Epithelial cells lining the entire respiratory tract that have been exposed to smoking show molecular alterations that may signify the onset of lung cancers, a paradigm known as the "airway field of injury”.
• Premalignant airway fields in the molecular pathogenesis of lung cancer:
  • Smoking induces widespread molecular alterations, such as gene expression changes in exposed epithelia throughout the respiratory tract.
  • The airway field of injury can be seen in smokers with or without lung cancer and is highly relevant for the identification of markers for minimally invasive and early detection of lung cancer.
  • The adjacent airway field of carcinoma represents the field in normal appearing airways adjacent to lung tumors.
  • It has been suggested that in this adjacent field of tumor, there is closer molecular genealogy between lung cancers and airways that are in closest proximity to the tumors compared with airways that are more distant from the tumors.
  • The progression of the molecular airway field of injury to preneoplasia and lung malignancy is still not clear.
  • Molecular changes involved in the development of the airway field of injury and changes mediating progression of this field to lung preneoplasia may help the identification of early markers for lung cancer detection and chemoprevention.

• Underlying lung disease such as COPD, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and tuberculosis may exacerbate also trigger the process.

Genetics

Molecular Pathogenesis of Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

• Somatic copy number alterations affect a large fraction of the cancer cell genome and are also associated with lung cancer.
  • Copy-number gain of chromosome 5p has been identified as the most frequent alteration in lung adenocarcinoma followed by chromosome 3q.
  • The Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene (KRAS) pathway is commonly found in smokers.
  • Mutation in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), particularly in-frame deletions are associated with never-smoking status, female gender, and East Asian ethnicity.
  • Focal amplifications of 14q13·3 are also frequent in adenocarcinoma of the lung, region coding for NKX2–1 (TTF1), a transcription factor crucial for development of the lung, thyroid, and brain.
  • RBM10 mutation is more prevalent in men.
  • Mutation in MGA, coding for a Max-interacting protein, which functions as a transcriptional repressor capable of blocking MYC-dependent transformation.
  • Some of the other recurrent somatic copy number alterations in lung adenocarcinoma include:
    • Amplifications in MET, ERBB2, and MDM2.
    • Deletions in LRP1B, PTPRD, and CDKN2A.
    • Fusion in ALK, ROS1, and RET.

Mutations	TP53, KRAS, EGFR, NF1, BRAF, MET, RIT
Fusions	ALK, ROS1, RET
SCNAs	Gains: NKX2-1, TERT, EGFR, MET, KRAS, ERBB2, MDM2 Losses: LRP1B, PTPRD, and CDKN2A
Pathway alterations	RTK/RAS/RAF mTOR, JAK-STAT, DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, epigenetic deregulation

Environment

• Although genetics play a significant role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer, it is thought that exposure to environmental risk factors plays an equally important role in the development of lung cancer.
• The main causes of lung cancer include carcinogens (such as those present in tobacco smoke), ionizing radiation, and viral infections.
• Chronic exposure results in cumulative alterations to the DNA in the tissue lining the bronchi of the lungs (the bronchial epithelium).
• Irreversible DNA changes following exposure to carcinogens are directly associated with the development of lung cancer.

Smoking

• Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of lung cancer.
• Cigarette smoke contains over 60 known carcinogens including radioisotopes from the radon decay sequence, nitrosamine, and benzopyrene.
• Nicotine is thought to reduce the immune response to malignant growths in exposed tissue.
• The length of time an individual smokes, as well as the amount, significantly increases the person's chance of developing lung cancer.
• Among individuals who stopped smoking, the risk of lung cancer steadily decreases as lung tissue repairs itself and as contaminant particles are eliminated from the lungs.
• It is thought that the risk of lung cancer among persons with a history of smoking (even when stopped) is always higher than those who never smoked.

Radon Gas

The association of radon gas exposure to lung cancer is described below.

• Radon is a colorless and odorless gas generated by the breakdown of radioactive radium (decay product of uranium) found in the Earth's crust. The radiation decay products ionize genetic material, causing mutations that sometimes turn cancerous.
• Radon exposure is the second major cause of lung cancer following smoking.
• The mechanism of lung damage following radon exposure is not thought to be due to the radon gas itself, but due to the short-lived alpha decay products that cause cellular damage and DNA mutations.

Asbestos

• Asbestos exposure is associated with many lung diseases, including lung cancer.
• Tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air are breathed into the lungs. The fibers become lodged in the lungs and are stuck for an indefinite amount of time. They can eventually lead to scarring and inflammation.

Viruses

• Viruses known to be associated with the development of lung cancer in animals and humans include:
  • Human papillomavirus
  • JC virus
  • Simian virus 40 (SV40)
  • BK virus
  • Cytomegalovirus
  • HIV
• These viruses may affect the cell cycle and inhibit apoptosis, allowing uncontrolled cell division.
• HIV has also been thought to increase the risk of developing lung cancer. Although the mechanism is unknown, HIV is thought to be associated with a state of chronic lung inflammation that may potentiate cellular damage and DNA mutations.

Infection and Inflammation

• There may be a correlation between general inflammation of lung tissue and the development of lung cancers.
• Neutrophils are released in response to bacterial infection and are considered to be the initial responders during inflammation.
• The hypothesis is that neutrophils may activate reactive oxygen or nitrogen species, which can bind to DNA and lead to genomic alterations. Accordingly, inflammation may be thought of as an initiator or promoter of lung cancer development. Also, tissue repair from inflammation is associated with cellular proliferation. During cellular proliferation there may be errors in chromosomal replication that can cause further DNA mutation.
• Angiogenesis, a significant process during tumor growth, may be promoted by chronic states of inflammation, which often require increased blood flow to sites of inflammation.

Gross Pathology

Gray-tan tumor seen predominantly at the periphery.
(Source: Libre pathology

• Adenocarcinoma of the lung may be preceded by morphological changes such as atypical adenomatous hypertrophy (AAH) in peripheral airway cells.
• AAH is a parenchymal lesion that arises in the alveoli close to terminal and respiratory bronchioles.
• AAH lesions are small and usually show incidental histological findings.
• They may be detected grossly, especially if they are 0.5 cm or larger.
• AAH is characterized by an alveolar structure lined by rounded, cuboidal, or low columnar cells.
• On gross pathology, peripheral multifocal lesions are characteristic findings in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung.
  • Single or multiple solid firm yellow-white nodule or mass which may invade into the pleura and cause pleural retraction/puckering.
  • Adenocarcinoma usually does not form a cavitary lesion.
  • Adenocarcinoma may present as a diffuse pleural thickening resembling malignant mesothelioma.

Microscopic Pathology

On microscopic histopathological analysis, nuclear atypia, eccentrically placed nuclei, abundant cytoplasm, and conspicuous nucleoli are characteristic findings of adenocarcinoma of the lung.

• Atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) is the precursor of peripheral adenocarcinomas. It consists of well demarcated columnar or cuboidal cells with the following features:
  • Varying degrees of cytologic atypia
  • Hyperchromasia
  • Pleomorphism
  • Prominent nucleoli
• As adenocarcinoma is a derivative of mucus producing glands in the lungs, it tends to stain mucin positive.
• Based on differentiation, the tumor may be:
  • Well differentiated (low grade): Normal appearance.
  • Poorly differentiated (high grade): Abnormal glandular appearance with a positive mucin stain.

Histological Sub-types

• The IASLC/ATS/ERS lung adenocarcinoma histologic classification system was proposed in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology in 2011.
• According to this new classification, tumor size ≤3 cm with pure lepidic pattern, but without lymphatic, vascular, pleural invasion or tumor necrosis was defined as adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS).
• If tumor size ≤3 cm with a lepidic predominant pattern and contained ≤5 mm stromal invasion it was defined as minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA).
• If tumor had >5 mm stromal invasion it was defined as an invasive adenocarcinoma.
• Histologically adenocarcinoma is divided in to following subtypes:
  • Lepidic Adenocarcinoma:

    

    Micrograph showing an invasive carcinoma with a few areas of lepidic growth lining alveoli.
    Source: Pathology outlines

    • Lepidic growth adenocarcinoma is defined as tumor cells proliferating along the surface of intact alveolar walls without stromal or vascular invasion pathologically.
    • Solitary adenocarcinomas with pure lepidic growth, termed “AIS” has 100% disease-specific survival, if the lesion is completely resected.
  • Acinar Adenocarcinoma:

    

    Micrograph showing an adenocarcinoma of the lung (acinar pattern), H&E stain.
    Source: Libre pathology

    • Acinar pattern comprises infiltrating round to oval glands lined by tumor cells.
    • Irregular-shaped glands.
    • Malignant cells: Hyperchromatic nuclei, fibroblastic stroma.
    • Sometimes the glandular cells and lumina may contain mucin.
  • Papillary Adenocarcinoma:

    

    Micrograph showing papillary adenocarcinoma of the lung
    Source: Libre pathology

    • The papillary pattern is composed of glandular tumour cells growing along fibrovascular cores.
    • Papillae, necrosis, surrounding invasion, cuboidal to columnar epithelial lining, mucinous or non-mucinous.
    • Lung adenocarcinomas with papillary growth show 2 types of papillary architecture:
      • True papillary type: Papillae containing a layered glandular epithelium surrounded by fibrovascular core.
      • Micropapillary type: The papillary tufts lack a central fibrovascular core and extensively shed within alveolar spaces.
  • Micropapillary adenocarcinoma:
    • The papillary tufts lack a central fibrovascular core and extensively shed within alveolar spaces.
    • Micropapillary growth has been associated with an aggressive clinical course compared with traditional papillary adenocarcinoma.
    • Micropapillary adenocarcinoma (MPA) may be often diagnosed at a high stage in nonsmokers, with intralobar satellites.
    • Micropapillary adenocarcinoma frequently metastasizes to the contralateral lung, mediastinal lymph nodes, bone, and adrenal glands, with high mortality.
  • Solid Adenocarcinoma:
    • Cohesive cell cluster in a nest-like pattern without acinar polarity are the hallmark of the solid growth pattern.
    • Solid adenocarcinoma consists of sheets of tumor cells with abundant cytoplasm and mostly vesicular nuclei with several conspicuous nucleoli.
    • No acinar, papillary, or lepidic patterns are seen and there was no suggestion of mucin in tumor cell cytoplasm.
  • Invasive Mucinous Adenocarcinoma:

    

    Micrograph of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung, H&E stain.
    Source: Libre pathology

    • Mixed invasive mucinous: Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma demonstrates areas with lepidic, acinar, and papillary patterns.
      • Fibrotic focus that contains invasive tumor with a desmoplastic stroma.
      • The tumor consists of columnar cells filled with abundant mucin in the apical cytoplasm and shows small, basally oriented nuclei.
    • Nonmucinous adenocarcinoma
  • Colloid Adenocarcinoma:
    • This tumor consists of abundant pools of mucin growing within and distending airspaces.
    • Well differentiated mucinous glandular epithelium along the surface of fibrous septa and within the pools of mucin.
    • Tumor cells may be very inconspicuous.
    • The surface of the fibrous wall may be lined by well-differentiated cuboidal or columnar mucinous epithelium.
  • Fetal Adenocarcinoma:
    • Fetal adenocarcinoma consists of malignant glandular cells growing in tubules and papillary structures with endometrioid morphology.
    • Some tumor cells have prominent clear cytoplasm, and squamoid morules are present.
  • Enteric Adenocarcinoma:
    • Consists of an adenocarcinoma that morphologically resembles colonic adenocarcinoma with back-to-back angulated acinar structures.
    • The tumor cells are cuboidal to columnar with nuclear pseudostratification.
    • The tumor stains strongly for CDX-2.
  • Minimally Invasive Adenocarcinoma (MIA)
    • Nonmucinous (MIA):
      • This subpleural adenocarcinoma tumor consists primarily of lepidic growth with a small (0.5 cm) central area of invasion.
      • It may present as the lepidic pattern and/or acinar invasion.
    • Mucinous (MIA):
      • Mucinous MIA consists of a tumor showing lepidic growth and a small (0.5 cm) area of invasion.
      • The tumor cells consist of mucinous columnar cells and pale cytoplasm resembling goblet cells growing mostly in a lepidic pattern along the surface of alveolar walls.
      • The tumor invades the areas of stromal fibrosis in an acinar pattern.
      • Low grade differentiation.
  • Preinvasive Lesions
    • Atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH): Consists of atypical pneumocytes proliferating along alveolar walls.
      • Non invasive.
      • The slightly atypical pneumocytes are cuboidal and show gaps between the cells.
      • Nuclei are hyperchromatic and may present with nuclear enlargement and multinucleation.
    • Adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS)
      • Nonmucinous (AIS): Tumor grows purely with a lepidic pattern.
        • No foci of invasion or scarring is seen.
        • It shows atypical pneumocytes proliferating along the thickened, but preserved, alveolar walls.
      • Mucinous AIS: Consists of a nodular proliferation of mucinous columnar cells growing in a purely lepidic pattern.
        • Although there is a small central scar, no stromal or vascular invasion is seen.
        • The tumor cells consist of cuboidal to columnar cells with abundant apical mucin and small, basally oriented nuclei.

References

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