CXCL12 expression is a bona fide predictor of recurrence in lung neuroendocrine tumours; a multicentric study with emphasis on atypical carcinoids - a short report

Purpose Neuroendocrine tumors of the lung (LNETs) encompass a heterogeneous group of lesions, including tumors with no or low metastatic potential, such as typical (TCs) and atypical (ACs) carcinoids, and highly aggressive neuroendocrine carcinomas. To date, only a few biomarkers with prognostic impact have been identified in LNETs. Previous experimental studies have suggested that the cytokine CXCL12 might have a role in stratifying the outcome of lung cancer as well as LNET patients. However, the reliability of immunohistochemical (IHC) tissue expression of CXCL12 in evaluating the prognosis of resected LNETs is currently not known.