Relationship between neoplastic changes and basal cell hyperplasia of the bronchial epithelium in squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma of the lung

The relationship between neoplastic changes and the character of dysregeneratory alterations in the bronchial epithelium of patients with squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma was assessed. Tumor fragments of the removed lung outside the tumor were studied for 109 patients. Histological examination revealed various combinations of dysregeneratory alterations. The combination of basal cell hyperplasia with squamous cell metaplasia in the bronchial epithelium outside the tumor was observed more rarely in adenocarcinoma than in squamous cell cancer (χ2=4,36, р=0,0368). Bronchial epithelial dysplasia was not revealed or it was observed very rarely in patients having no basal cell hyperplasia and squamous cell metaplasia. Marked dysplastic changes occurred more frequently in patients with squamous cell metaplasia without basal cell hyperplasia. The distinction of dysregeneratory alterations contributing to the development of pulmonary adenocarcinoma is the presence of isolated squamous cell metaplasia in the bronchial epithelium (χ2=6,38, р=0,0115).