Intermediate filament expression in small cell lung cancer; poor correlation to in vitro data.

A panel of monoclonal antibodies, detecting different intermediate sized filament proteins, was prospectively applied on all specimens derived from S.C.L.C. patients attending our clinic in 1985. Reactivity with the antibodies was subsequently correlated to clinical data. The results indicate a heterogeneous pattern of reactivity of the assessed antibodies. However this heterogeneity is not a straightforward extension of the intermediate sized filament expression in SCLC cell lines.