title: Nuclear chromatin texture in rectal carcinoma. Prognostic value.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prognostic value of nuclear features in rectal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  High-resolution imagery of 3,635 nuclei from 51 patients operated on for rectal cancer at various Dukes' stages was digitally recorded. A set of 93 features descriptive of the spatial and statistical distribution of nuclear chromatin was computed for each nucleus to derive a digital signature. Karyometric features were analyzed for correlation with progression of disease and death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analysis of main karyometric features in comparison with cancer staging demonstrated that total optical density and clumpness, as well as average nuclear signature, had significant prognostic value in predicting cancer-related death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Digital signature seems to have a role as prognostic factor in rectal cancer. The method could be a useful parameter in deciding whether to perform adjuvant therapy in particular subgroups of patients, independently of tumor staging. However, these observations need to be substantiated with additional studies, including larger numbers of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Coloproctological Surgery, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mario A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rosito
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Damin
authors.forename: Luis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Vinicius D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: João C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Prolla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin