Alveolar cell carcinoma in identical twins. Similarity in time of onset, histochemistry, and site of metastasis.

Identical male twins had alveolar cell carcinoma with nearly synchronous onset and similar histopathologic features, both metastatic to the brain. The hypothesis is advanced that there are genes shared by these twins that determine not only the susceptibility of pulmonary cells to malignant transformation but also the character of the resultant neoplasm, including its histologic features and metastatic behavior.