Phenotypic change of muscularis mucosae in early invasive colorectal adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Background-Invasive colorectal adenocarcinomas have bundles of eosinophilic spindle cells, which are regarded as myofibroblasts, in their desmoplastic stroma, some of which are continuous with the muscularis mucosa. Aim-To investigate the relation between the eosinophilic spindle cells and the muscularis mucosa based on their cytoskeletal phenotypes in early invasive colorectal adenocarcinoma. Methods-Formalin fixed, paraYn wax embedded tissues of 17 early invasive colorectal adenocarcinomas were immunostained for -smooth muscle actin ( -SMA), desmin, and vimentin. Results-The phenotype of the muscularis mucosa was -SMA positive, desmin positive, and vimentin weakly positive, whereas the eosinophilic spindle cells showed a decreased degree of immunoreactivity for -SMA and desmin in particular, and an increased degree of immunoreactivity for vimentin. The degree of phenotypic diVerence between the muscularis mucosa and the eosinophilic spindle cells was greater in the eosinophilic spindle cells in the centre of the invasive area that were not continuous with the muscularis mucosa than in the eosinophilic spindle cells continuous with the muscularis mucosa. Conclusions-These findings suggest that the smooth muscle cells of the muscularis mucosa change their phenotype to become eosinophilic spindle cells, namely myofibroblasts, in the early invasive area of colorectal adenocarcinoma. (J Clin Pathol 2000;53:878-881)

More advanced or aggressive colorectal cancer is associated with a higher incidence of “high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia” on biopsy-based pathological examination

“…It is known that the expression of proteolytic enzymes such as MMP-9 that is responsible for degrading collagen in the basement membrane is a feature of more aggressive colorectal carcinomas [21]. Degradation of the muscularis mucosae has also been observed in early colorectal cancer [22][23][24]. In view of the above evidence, it is suggested that the damage of muscularis mucosae by cancer cells contributes to the failure to diagnose ISM, especially in advanced colorectal cancer, which is consistent with our findings.…”

Factors predicting occurrence and therapeutic choice in malignant colorectal polyps: a study of 13 years of colonoscopic polypectomy

“…Normally muscularis mucosae expresses desmin and α -SMA [ 25 ] (Figures 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ), while stromal pericryptal and non-pericryptal myofibroblasts are α -SMA positive and may have focal desmin-positive immunostaining [ 25 ], especially at the crypt basis [ 26 ]. In another study, stromal cells in the early invasive area, designed as bundles of eosinophilic spindle cells on routine HE staining and partly continuous with the muscularis mucosae , showed α -SMA expression, but a loss of desmin expression [ 26 ]. The desmin immunostaining can be used for the assessment of the deepest point of invasion similar to esophageal adenocarcinoma [ 27 ].…”

Predictive Histopathologic Factors for Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients With Nonpedunculated Submucosal Invasive Colorectal Carcinoma

“…35,36 An anti-human desmin antibody, D33 (1:100; Dako, Glostrup, Denmark), was used as described previously. 37 …”