Oral and maxillofacial pathologyRetrospective analysis of nuclear protein in testis (NUT) midline carcinoma in the upper aerodigestive tract and mediastinum

ObjectiveNuclear protein in testis (NUT) midline carcinoma (NMC) is a very aggressive tumor with limited survival, recently recognized as a subset of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. A simple chromosomal translocation results in NUT overexpression and malignant transformation. This study used immunohistochemistry to retrospectively diagnose and characterize NMC cases.Study DesignImmunoperoxidase staining was performed according to a standard protocol and interpreted independently by two pathologists. Scores were based on nuclear staining with monoclonal NUT antibody (C52B1) in the tumor cells.ResultsFifty-one poorly differentiated carcinoma cases with material available for testing were retrieved. Average patient age was 54.9 years (range: 16-82), with 20 women and 31 men. A single NMC case (2%) was retrospectively diagnosed in a 26-year-old man with a left maxillary sinus/nasal cavity tumor; he died of his disease 18 months after presentation, despite treatment.ConclusionsThese results support inclusion of NUT antibody in diagnostic immunohistochemical panels for poorly differentiated carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract.