Nuclear area is a prognostic determinant in advanced colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
The prognostic value of morphometric nuclear features in Dukes' Stages B/C and D colorectal cancer (CRC) was assessed.


METHODS
Primary tumours from 86 CRC patients were analysed, using an image overlay drawing system (Prodit Morphometry Program), for the following nuclear features: area, perimeter, diameter, form factor, roundness.


RESULTS
The median nuclear area (NA) was 104.6 microm2 (range 57.2 - 237.2 microm2). The NA was larger in patients with lymph node metastasis (p < 0.02). Altogether, 43% of the patients showed clinical response to irinotecan-based chemotherapy. All six patients with complete response (CR) had a NA above the median (p < 0.03). The disease-specific survival of the patients with a NA above the median was significantly better than in patients with smaller NA (p < 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Using the median NA as the cut-off value seems to effectively discriminate patients who are likely to respond to irinotecan-based chemotherapy (with improved prognosis) from those who are non-responsive and develop progressive disease.
Buhmeida
Abdelbaset
A
Departments of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland. abuhme@utu.fi
Ristamäki
Raija
R
Lamlum
Hanan
H
Bendardaf
Riyad
R
Heikkilä
Suvi
S
Collan
Yrjö
Y
Syrjänen
Kari
K
Pyrhönen
Seppo
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D015996:Survival Rate
D000077146:Irinotecan; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin