Goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix: a specific type of carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Goblet cell carcinoid is a poorly understood tumour of the appendix. The aim of this study was to determine whether it should be regarded as a separate entity or as a variant of classical carcinoid.


RESULTS
The immunohistochemical expression pattern of 21 markers and the mutation status of KRas codon 12 were determined in 16 goblet cell carcinoids and compared with 14 classical carcinoids, 19 colonic adenocarcinomas and 10 appendiceal mucinous cystadeno (carcino)mas. The results were subjected to a stepwise linear discriminant analysis. Goblet cell carcinoids were significantly different from the control groups. The most important markers for discriminating between the groups were CEA (classical carcinoid versus all others), KRas mutation (present in all mucinous cystadeno (carcino)mas), beta-catenin (goblet cell carcinoid versus left sided colonic adenocarcinoma) and chromogranin (goblet cell carcinoid versus right sided colonic adenocarcinoma). Expression of Math1 and HD5 was similar in goblet cell carcinoid and colonic adenocarcinoma but absent in classical carcinoid.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that goblet cell carcinoids should be regarded as a separate entity. The formerly used term 'crypt cell carcinoma' may be more appropriate because it reflects the more aggressive clinical behaviour of these tumours as well as their greater similarity to adenocarcinomas rather than to carcinoids.
van Eeden
S
S
Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.vaneeden@amc.uva.nl
Offerhaus
G J A
GJ
Hart
A A M
AA
Boerrigter
L
L
Nederlof
P M
PM
Porter
E
E
van Velthuysen
M-L F
ML
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001063:Appendiceal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins