ISSN:
1432-2307
Keywords:
Chromogranin A
;
Secretogranin II
;
Immunocytochemistry
;
Prognosis
;
Colorectal adenocarcinomas
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Colorectal adenocarcinomas may display features of endocrine differentiation, shown by argyrophil stains and by the expression of endocrine markers such as chromogranin A. We investigated chromogranin A and secretogranin II immunoreactivity in a series of 208 carcinomas of the large bowel to assess the prevalence and clinical significance of endocrine differentiation. Tumours expressing endocrine markers were classified as low expressors (〈 than 1 immunoreactive tumour cell/mm2) and high expressors (〉 than 1 immunoreactive tumour cell/mm2). There were 33 (16%) carcinomas showing both chromogranin A and secretogranin II immunoreactivity: 11 tumours (5%) were high expressors. Endocrine differentiation was not related to the disease stage, tumour location, grade, DNA ploidy and p53 protein accumulation. In the entire series chromogranin A immunoreactivity did not provide prognostic information using univariate and multivariate analysis. A worse overall survival (P=0.048) was demonstrated for the stage III patients with high expressor tumours, but there were only five patients in this group. The results of our investigation suggest that chromogranin A immunoreactivity is not a useful variable in the prognostic assessment of colorectal adenocarcinomas.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00192113
Permalink
