title: Correlation between chromogranin-A expression and pathological variables in human colon carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The possible association between neuroendocrine pattern and cancer prognosis could have substantial clinical implications, but the studies performed have generated conflicting results. As chromogranin-A (CGA) and dense-core granules are expressed concordantly, CGA expression may be used as a marker for cells expressing the complete neuroendocrine cell phenotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six patients with primary colon carcinoma who underwent potentially curative surgery were analyzed. For immunohistochemical study a monoclonal antibody specific for human chromogranin A was used. The tumor was considered positive when the number of CGA cells was higher than 10% in the section. The relation between CGA-positivity and depth of parietal invasion, lymph-node status and differentiation grade was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed positive immunostaining in 22 cases out of 56 (39.3%). Significant association was found between CGA-positivity and lymph-node metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CGA overexpression could reflect a more aggressive tumor. If our results are confirmed, we should consider the CGA + colon cancer patients at risk for lymph-node disease and therefore include them in a adjuvant chemotherapeutic protocol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery Pietro Valdoni, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy. mariledaindinnimeo@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Marileda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Indinnimeo
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cicchini
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Memeo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stazi
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Provenza
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Pietro Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Mingazzini
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000473:pathology; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: C506150:CHGA protein, human; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins