Some cancers are harder to identify than others¹. This is especially true in lung cancer². Differentiating between the various subtypes of lung cancer, even under a microscope, can be a very difficult task^2,4. In one study, up to 40% of squamous or adenocarcinoma of the lung were reclassified when evaluated by a second pathologist². In another study the number of cases classified correctly was 66% for adenocarcinoma and 53% for squamous cell carcinoma³. There are more examples in the scientific literature of lung cancer subtypes misclassifications. 

The methods currently used to diagnose lung cancer have limitations and may be inaccurate^2,3,5,6.

Until recently, there wasn't a single test available in the market that could help doctors accurately tell whether their patients had SCLC, carcinoid, squamous or non-squamous NSCLC. miRview® lung is a unique kind of test. It uses cutting-edge technology to tell what type of lung cancer you have⁷.

In some cases, mainly because of sample quantity limitations of well-preserved tissue such as in cytological samples (e.g. FNA, lung bronchial brushing and washing), it is difficult to reproducibly distinguish between the four main types of lung cancer on the basis of pathological workup^3,8,9,10. Histological diffrences between these tumor types can be subtle and interobserver variability in classification occurs relatively frequently and may cause diagnostic dilemmas. Lung cancer is often not found until it starts to cause symptoms¹¹. At this point, it may be very advanced¹¹. It is important to begin the right treatment as soon as you receive a clear diagnosis. miRview® lung can differentiate between lung tumor types and deliver your diagnosis quickly and accurately. This can help you get the most appropriate treatment right from the start.

1. Yaziji H, Battifora H, Barry TS, et al. Evaluation of 12 antibodies for distinguishing epithelioid mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma: identification of a three-antibody immunohistochemical panel with maximal sensitivity and specificity. Mod Pathol. 2006;19(4):514-523.
2. Stang A, Pohlabeln H, Müller KM, Jahn I, Giersiepen K, Jöckel KH. Diagnostic agreement in the histopathological evaluation of lung cancer tissue in a population-based case-control study. Lung Cancer. 2006;52(1):29-36.
3. Khayyata S, Yun S, Pasha T, Jian B, McGrath C, Yu G, Gupta P, Baloch Z.Value of P63 and CK5/6 in distinguishing squamous cell carcinoma from adenocarcinoma in lung fine-needle aspiration specimens.
   DiagnCytopathol. 2009:37(3):178-83. 
4. Marchevsky AM. Application of immunohistochemistry to the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2008;132(3):397-401.
5. Perelman M, Rosenwald S, Spector Y, et al. MicroRNA biomarkers for differential diagnosis of lung tumors. Presented at: United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology Annual Meeting; March 7-13, 2009; Boston, MA. Abstract 1630.
6. Field RW, Smith BJ, Platz CE, et al. Lung cancer histologic type in the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results registry versus independent review. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004;96(14):1105-1107.
7. Rosenfeld N, Aharonov R, Meiri E, et al. MicroRNAs accurately identify cancer tissue origin. Nat Biotechnol. 2008;26(4):462-469.
8. Jorda M, Gomez-Fernandez C, Garcia M, Mousavi F, Walker G, Mejias A, Fernandez-Castro G, Ganjei-Azar P. P63 differentiates subtypes of non small cell carcinomas of lung in cytologicsamples: implications in treatment selection. Cancer. 2009:117(1):46-50.
9. Stoll LM, Johnson MW, Burroughs F, Li QK. Cytologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of lung carcinoid tumors a retrospective study of 63 Cases with histologic correlation. Cancer Cytopathol. 2010:118(6):457-67.
10. Bishop JA, Benjamin H, Cholakh H, Chajut A, Clark DP, Westra WH. Accurate classification of non-small cell lung carcinoma using a novel microRNA-based approach.Clin Cancer Res. 2010:16(2):610-9.
11. Detailed guide: lung cancer―non-small cell: how is non-small cell lung cancer diagnosed? American Cancer Society Web site. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3x_How_Is_Non-Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer_Diagnosed.asp?rnav=cri. Updated October 24, 2008. Accessed February 23, 2009.