Background: The role of desmoplastic reaction (DR) in colorectal cancer invasion is still an open question. The presence of fibrous connective tissue may represent a barrier against cancer diffusion or a stroma to build up and support the tumor. Aims of the present study were to evaluate the influence of DR on long-term survival and to validate a reliable quantitative method to measure the desmoplastic tissue. Methods: This retrospective study included 86 patients who underwent radical colorectal resection for cancer, from a database of 429 patients. To achieve a quantitative histochemical measurement of DR, digital images were analyzed by a computerized image analysis program. DR was related to the overall survival and the quantitative method was related to the traditional one. Results: By using the Kaplan-Meier analysis, DR was found to be significantly associated with overall survival. Patients with a higher value of DR survived longer than those with smaller DR and the quantitative results were in accordance with those obtained by using the traditional methods. Conclusions: Desmoplasia seems to be a protective factor for survival in patients with colorectal carcinoma. The quantitative technique is easily standardized and can be routinely performed, so that DR may be a useful prognostic indicator. Notwithstanding, the conflicting outcomes reported in literature about DR need further biological and molecular studies to achieve definitive conclusions.
Quantitative investigation of desmoplasia as a prognostic indicator in colorectal cancer / Caporale, Alessandro; AMORE BONAPASTA, Stefano; Stefano Amore, Bonapasta; Scarpini, Massimo; Ciardi, Antonio; Vestri, Anna Rita; Ruperto, Mariangela; Giuliani, Andrea. - In: JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE SURGERY. - ISSN 0894-1939. - 23:2(2010), pp. 105-109. [10.3109/08941930903469417]
Quantitative investigation of desmoplasia as a prognostic indicator in colorectal cancer
CAPORALE, Alessandro;AMORE BONAPASTA, Stefano;SCARPINI, Massimo;CIARDI, Antonio;VESTRI, Anna Rita;RUPERTO, MARIANGELA;GIULIANI, Andrea
2010
Abstract
Background: The role of desmoplastic reaction (DR) in colorectal cancer invasion is still an open question. The presence of fibrous connective tissue may represent a barrier against cancer diffusion or a stroma to build up and support the tumor. Aims of the present study were to evaluate the influence of DR on long-term survival and to validate a reliable quantitative method to measure the desmoplastic tissue. Methods: This retrospective study included 86 patients who underwent radical colorectal resection for cancer, from a database of 429 patients. To achieve a quantitative histochemical measurement of DR, digital images were analyzed by a computerized image analysis program. DR was related to the overall survival and the quantitative method was related to the traditional one. Results: By using the Kaplan-Meier analysis, DR was found to be significantly associated with overall survival. Patients with a higher value of DR survived longer than those with smaller DR and the quantitative results were in accordance with those obtained by using the traditional methods. Conclusions: Desmoplasia seems to be a protective factor for survival in patients with colorectal carcinoma. The quantitative technique is easily standardized and can be routinely performed, so that DR may be a useful prognostic indicator. Notwithstanding, the conflicting outcomes reported in literature about DR need further biological and molecular studies to achieve definitive conclusions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.