title: Identification of High-Risk Aberrant Crypt Foci and Mucin-Depleted Foci in the Human Colon With Study of Colon Cancer Stem Cell Markers.
abstract: During colonoscopic screening, only macroscopic lesions will be identified, and these are usually the result of multiple genetic abnormalities. Magnification endoscopic detection of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), long before they acquire complex genetic abnormalities, is promising. However, the features of high-risk ACF-like lesions need to be identified.
  
  
  
  In the present cross-sectional study, grossly visible normal mucosal flaps were shaved from 152 colectomies, including 96 colorectal cancer (CRC) cases and 56 controls (22 control specimens with disease with malignant potential and 34 without malignant potential). Methylene and Alcian blue stains were performed directly on the unfixed mucosal flaps to identify ACF and mucin-depleted foci (MDF). Detailed topographic analyses, with immunohistochemical staining for β-catenin and cancer stem cell (CSC) markers (CD44, CD24, and CD166) were performed.
  
  
  
  ACF, MDF, and β-catenin-accumulated crypts were detected more in specimens with adjacent CRC. The left colon had ACF with a larger diameter and greater crypt multiplicity, density, and gyriform pit pattern and were considered the high-risk ACF group. MDF, more commonly associated with dysplasia, is also a marker of possible carcinogenesis. The CD44 CSC marker was significantly upregulated in ACF specimens compared with normal controls. Our 3-tier ACF-only pit pattern classification system showed better linearity with mucosal dysplasia than did the 6-tier Kudo classification.
  
  
  
  High-risk ACF, when detected during chromoendoscopic screening, should be followed up. CSCs might play an important role in pathogenesis. Larger studies and genotypic risk stratification for definite identification of high-risk ACF are needed.
authors: Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors: Brijnandan
authors: B
authors: Gupta
authors: Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. Electronic address: prasenaiims@gmail.com.
authors: Prasenjit
authors: P
authors: Das
authors: Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors: Shouriyo
authors: S
authors: Ghosh
authors: Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors: Janvie
authors: J
authors: Manhas
authors: Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors: Sudip
authors: S
authors: Sen
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors: Sujoy
authors: S
authors: Pal
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors: Peush
authors: P
authors: Sahni
authors: Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors: Aashish Dutt
authors: AD
authors: Upadhyay
authors: Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors: Subrat K
authors: SK
authors: Panda
authors: Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors: Siddhartha Datta
authors: SD
authors: Gupta
mesh_terms: D058739:Aberrant Crypt Foci / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009077:Mucins; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009077:Mucins
keywords: ACF pit pattern; Colon cancer stem cells; Colorectal cancer screening; Magnifying chromoendoscopic detection; Risk stratification