Different biological materials are found in neoplastic glands with pores at the invading edge of sporadic colonic carcinomas.

BACKGROUND

Studying the invading edge of colorectal carcinomas it was previously noticed that the neoplastic glands with pores could contain mucin, inflammatory cells and/or necrotic material.

AIMS

To systematically record the type of intraglandular materials found in the neoplastic glands with pores at the invading edge of sporadic colonic carcinomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Histological sections from 12 adenocarcinomas were selected when the following materials were predominantly found in the neoplastic glands with pores at the invading tumor edge: mucin (3 cases, group I), neutrophilic granulocyes (3 cases, group II), necrotic material (3 cases, group III) and invaginated stroma (3 cases, group IV). Surgical histological sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and analyzed at 20 magnifications. The length of the invading edge was measured with a translucent millimetre ruler and the number of glands with pores per mm was calculated in each case.

RESULTS

Two hundred and ninety-five glands with pores were analyzed in the 12 cases. Mucus was found in 68% (n=55) of the 81 glands with pores in group I, granulocytes in 95% (n=41) of the 43 glands with pores in group II, necrotic material in 72% (n=84) of the 117 glands with pores in group III and stromal invaginations in 61% (n=33) of the 54 glands with pores in group IV. The mean number of glands with pores per mm was 1.02 (55 glands/54 mm) in group I, 0.93 (41 glands/44 mm) in group II, 1.22 (84 glands /69 mm) in group III and 0.62 (33 glands /53 mm) in group IV.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Neoplastic glands with pores at the invading front of colonic adenocarcinomas may predominantly contain various biological materials. These materials may differ in different individuals. While tumor mucins harbour proteolytic enzymes able to digest the juxtaposed stroma of the host, the possible significance of the other intraglandular materials contributed by the host, such as neutrophils, necrotic material and/or stromal invaginations on tumor growth, is still poorly understood. Further studies are necessary to assess whether each one of these intraglandular materials has any bearing on the progression of colonic carcinomas.