ASCL1 and small cell lung carcinoma: This is in stark contrast with the recognition of the diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) as the precursor lesion for neuroendocrine carcinoids of the lung [7,8], pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) are considered putative precursors of small cell lung cancer [9], while the expression of ASCL1 (both in tumors and cell lines) confirms SCLC neuroendocrine lineage [10,11].