Mean weighted nuclear volumes in colonic adenocarcinomas. Evaluation of prognostic significance.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation of stereologically estimated mean weighted nuclear volumes of tumor cell nuclei (MWNV) with other prognostic factors and survival in colonic adenocarcinomas.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 42 patients with colonic adenocarcinomas who were treated by a standardized protocol and had a mean follow-up of 89 months. The point sample intercepts method was used to estimate MWNV. In addition, immunohistochemical expression of p53 and Ki-67 was evaluated semiquantitatively.


RESULTS
The calculated nuclear volumes correlated significantly with histologic grading and with the extent of tumor progression (organ confined/nonorgan confined). There was no correlation with p53 expression or proliferative activity determined by MIB-1 positivity. No correlation could be demonstrated with sex, age or clinical outcome of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Assessment of MWNV in colonic adenocarcinomas does not provide additional information concerning the clinical course.
Mairinger
T
T
Department of Pathology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Happacher
R
R
Gabl
C
C
Hoffmann
Y
Y
Ofner
D
D
Schmid
K W
KW
Gschwendtner
A
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002455:Cell Division; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007620:Karyometry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53