Table 3 Molecular markers with a postulated prognostic significance in NE tumors

β-catenin

Its cytoplasmic overexpression has negative prognostic role in SCLCs

98

Bcl-2

Arguable prognostic role in SCLCs/adverse prognosis in large NE tumors

121–123,125

bFGF

Favorable prognostic significance in SCLCs

210

CD44

CD44v6 is correlated with tumor aggressiveness in NE tumors

100

c-erbB-2

Poor prognosis in advanced SCLCs

79

c-myc

Negative prognostic value in SCLCs

160,163

MMP-3

Unfavorable prognostic significance in SCLCs

185

MMP-11

Adverse prognosis in SCLCs

185

MMP-14

Negative predictive value in SCLCs

185

L-myc

Correlated with variant SCLC/ambiguous predictive value

32,160,163

Metallothionein

Adverse prognostic significance in SCLCs

134

N-myc

Correlated with variant SCLC/ambiguous predictive value

32,169,163

PAI-2

Favorable prognostic value in NE tumors

188

p53

Arguable prognostic role in NE tumors

60,126,133,134

P-glycoprotein

Its expression has negative prognostic role in SCLCs

255–257

pRb

LOH is related to a poor clinical outcome in NE tumors

49

Telomerase

Adverse prognostic significance in NE tumors

183

TIMP-1

Associated with better response to therapy

185

Topo II a

Its elevation correlates with adverse prognosis in SCLCs

121

VEGF

Related to chemoresistance and adverse prognosis in SCLCs

206,207