open access

Vol 53, No 1 (2015)
Original paper
Submitted: 2014-08-10
Accepted: 2015-02-05
Published online: 2015-04-14
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DNA ploidy and morphology of colon tumors in the adenoma–carcinoma sequence

Judith Staarmann, Waleed F.A. Kotb, Iver Petersen
DOI: 10.5603/FHC.a2015.0001
·
Pubmed: 25677247
·
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2015;53(1):11-18.

open access

Vol 53, No 1 (2015)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2014-08-10
Accepted: 2015-02-05
Published online: 2015-04-14

Abstract

Introduction. Chromosomal changes are widespread in the vast majority of colon carcinomas and aneuploidy is an established prognostic factor. However, this knowledge so far has no influence on tumor classification. We reported a morphology-based classification scheme, the core classification, that correlates with DNA ploidy. In particular, tripolar mitoses were identified as surrogate markers of a near triploid DNA content. In addition, a survey on chromosome numbers and survival rates in carcinomas suggested that triploidy as a particular state of aneuploidy may be correlated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype. We therefore aimed to analyse DNA ploidy in the colorectal adenoma–carcinoma sequence.

Material and methods. The study collection consisted of 15 adenomas and 15 adenocarcinomas of 10 patients. Some of them showed a morphological transition between benign and malignant tumor components which were selectively analysed by DNA measurements. In addition, we assessed the morphological parameters of the core classification.

Results. The main findings of the study may be summarized as follows. 1) DNA ploidy changes are already consistently detectable in colon adenomas. They are usually associated with hyperdiploidy. 2) Adenoma tissue adjacent to carcinomas, however, may carry a hypodiploid DNA content while the nearby carcinoma samples were hyperdiploid. Hypodiploidy may thus represent a transition state to near triploid carcinomas. 3) The size of tumor nuclei and mitoses usually reflects the ploidy level of colon tumors. Specifically, triploid mitoses may point to a near triploid DNA content. 4) Triploidy per se cannot be equated with tumor aggressiveness as it may already be found in adenocarcinoma in situ. 5) Tripolar and tetrapolar mitoses in invasive colon cancer, however, are potential indicators of an advanced chromosomal instability and seemed to be associated with advanced tumor stages.

Conclusions. We present data that hypodiploidy may represent a transition state from adenoma to carcinoma in a subset of colorectal tumors and that near-triploidy may be associated with a more aggressive course of the disease. However, the interpretation of tripolar mitoses and triploidy is largely dependent on the cell type (benign vs. malignant) and tissue context (invasive vs. non-invasive cancer). Furthermore, its interpretation may be distinct for different tumor stages and histotypes. Aneuploidy and multipolar mitoses are frequent findings in cancer cells. Their relevance for tumor biology deserves further studies.

Abstract

Introduction. Chromosomal changes are widespread in the vast majority of colon carcinomas and aneuploidy is an established prognostic factor. However, this knowledge so far has no influence on tumor classification. We reported a morphology-based classification scheme, the core classification, that correlates with DNA ploidy. In particular, tripolar mitoses were identified as surrogate markers of a near triploid DNA content. In addition, a survey on chromosome numbers and survival rates in carcinomas suggested that triploidy as a particular state of aneuploidy may be correlated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype. We therefore aimed to analyse DNA ploidy in the colorectal adenoma–carcinoma sequence.

Material and methods. The study collection consisted of 15 adenomas and 15 adenocarcinomas of 10 patients. Some of them showed a morphological transition between benign and malignant tumor components which were selectively analysed by DNA measurements. In addition, we assessed the morphological parameters of the core classification.

Results. The main findings of the study may be summarized as follows. 1) DNA ploidy changes are already consistently detectable in colon adenomas. They are usually associated with hyperdiploidy. 2) Adenoma tissue adjacent to carcinomas, however, may carry a hypodiploid DNA content while the nearby carcinoma samples were hyperdiploid. Hypodiploidy may thus represent a transition state to near triploid carcinomas. 3) The size of tumor nuclei and mitoses usually reflects the ploidy level of colon tumors. Specifically, triploid mitoses may point to a near triploid DNA content. 4) Triploidy per se cannot be equated with tumor aggressiveness as it may already be found in adenocarcinoma in situ. 5) Tripolar and tetrapolar mitoses in invasive colon cancer, however, are potential indicators of an advanced chromosomal instability and seemed to be associated with advanced tumor stages.

Conclusions. We present data that hypodiploidy may represent a transition state from adenoma to carcinoma in a subset of colorectal tumors and that near-triploidy may be associated with a more aggressive course of the disease. However, the interpretation of tripolar mitoses and triploidy is largely dependent on the cell type (benign vs. malignant) and tissue context (invasive vs. non-invasive cancer). Furthermore, its interpretation may be distinct for different tumor stages and histotypes. Aneuploidy and multipolar mitoses are frequent findings in cancer cells. Their relevance for tumor biology deserves further studies.

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Keywords

colon carcinogenesis; ploidy; triploidy; multipolar mitosis; adenoma–carcinoma sequence

About this article
Title

DNA ploidy and morphology of colon tumors in the adenoma–carcinoma sequence

Journal

Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica

Issue

Vol 53, No 1 (2015)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

11-18

Published online

2015-04-14

Page views

2094

Article views/downloads

1980

DOI

10.5603/FHC.a2015.0001

Pubmed

25677247

Bibliographic record

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2015;53(1):11-18.

Keywords

colon carcinogenesis
ploidy
triploidy
multipolar mitosis
adenoma–carcinoma sequence

Authors

Judith Staarmann
Waleed F.A. Kotb
Iver Petersen

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