Morphofunctional malignancy grading is a valuable prognostic factor for colorectal cancer

Abstract

-Context -Novel strategies are needed to identify more efficient biomarkers to accurately diagnose prognose and improve the treatment outcome of colorectal cancer. Objectives -To analyze the functional and morphological features of colorectal cancer to identify the neoplastic patterns that affect patient survival. Methods -Forty-five patients with colorectal cancer were followed for a minimum of 3 years. Blood levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were measured by chemiluminescence and immunohistochemical analysis of tissue expression followed by computer-assisted image processing. Tumors were assigned to three morphofunctional classes. The morphofunctional classification was based on combination between histological differentiation and cell polarization. The functional characterization was based on the CEA cell polarization. The tissue polarization of CEA was classified in well-polarized, moderately polarized or nonpolarized cells. Morphofunctional staging was defined by the association between morphofunctional class (polarization and histological differentiation) and TNM by score given to each one classification. Results -There was an association between increased CEA tissue expression and loss of histological differentiation (P = 0.01) or loss of polarization capacity (P = 0.03). There was a progressive increase in tissue CEA quantities in accordance with the proposed morphofunctional grading system. Plasma levels of CEA were increased in advanced tumor stages. Blood levels of CEA were increased in advanced morphofunctional stages (P = 0.001). There was a relationship between survival outcome and morphofunctional staging (P = 0.005). Conclusion -Morphofunctional staging is a valuable prognostic factor for colorectal cancer and it correlates with plasma CEA levels.

Antitumor effect of isoquercetin on tissue vasohibin expression and colon cancer vasculature

“…All identified vascular structures throughout the tumor surface were counted according to the International Consensus of Evaluation of Angiogenesis Quantification in Solid Human Tumors [ 77 , 78 ]. Microvascular quantification was performed using computerized image processing software (NIS for Windows) [ 79 , 80 ].…”

“…After capture, the images were evaluated by NIS Program. The measurement was made in a three field representative of the sample [ 79 , 80 ]. The average obtained after reading separate fields on the same slide was considered as the VASHs expressions (%).…”