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. 2021 Jan-Mar;62(1):117-124.
doi: 10.47162/RJME.62.1.11.

Pathological and immunohistochemical study of colon cancer. Evaluation of markers for colon cancer stem cells

Daniel Sorin Ilie  1 , George Mitroi, Ion Păun, Tiberiu Ştefăniţă Ţenea-Cojan, Carmen Neamţu, Bogdan Dan Totolici, Konstantinos Sapalidis, Stelian Ştefăniţă Mogoantă, Adrian Murea
Affiliations

Pathological and immunohistochemical study of colon cancer. Evaluation of markers for colon cancer stem cells

Daniel Sorin Ilie et al. Rom J Morphol Embryol. 2021 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is a major public health problem worldwide with increasing morbidity and mortality. Numerous exogenous and endogenous factors are involved in colorectal carcinogenesis: age, sex, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, exposure to harmful environmental factors, intestinal microbiota, bacterial and viral infections, the ability of the host immune system to respond, genetic factors, etc. The present study analyzed histopathologically and immunohistochemically a number of 36 cases of colorectal adenocarcinomas. The existence of an accentuated cell pleomorphism was noted, which corresponds to different clones of tumor cells, in the same tumor coexisting aspects of tubular adenocarcinoma, mucinous areas and even signet-ring cell. The tumor stroma was mainly of the desmoplastic type, but also of the lax type, more or less infiltrated with inflammatory cells. Evaluation of immunomarkers for cancer stem cells (CSCs) showed that none of the markers used alone [cluster of differentiation (CD)133, CD44, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 (ALDH1A1), CD24, CD26] show CSCs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Image of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma with desmoplastic stroma and a moderate amount of inflammatory infiltrate. HE staining, ×100. HE: Hematoxylin–Eosin
Figure 2
Figure 2
Poorly differentiated colon adenocarcinoma. GS trichrome staining, ×100. GS: Goldner–Szekely
Figure 3
Figure 3
Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma formed of glands characterized by extensive cellular pleomorphism; some cells have retained the capacity to synthesize PAS-positive mucosubstances. PAS–Hematoxylin staining, ×200. PAS: Periodic Acid–Schiff
Figure 4
Figure 4
Tumor stroma formed of loose connective tissue with numerous congested blood vessels, infiltrated with lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages. HE staining, ×100
Figure 5
Figure 5
Tumor stroma heavily infiltrated with inflammatory cells. HE staining, ×200
Figure 6
Figure 6
Tumor cells disseminated through the lymphatic pathway. HE staining, ×100
Figure 7
Figure 7
Mucinous adenocarcinoma, overview. HE staining, ×40
Figure 8
Figure 8
Signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma. HE staining, ×200
Figure 9
Figure 9
Well-differentiated colon adenocarcinoma with an intense immunohistochemical reaction within the tumor cells. Immunolabeling with anti-CD133 antibody, ×200. CD133: Cluster of differentiation 133
Figure 10
Figure 10
Poorly differentiated colon adenocarcinoma with a weak reaction to CD44 within tumor cells. Immunolabeling with anti-CD44 antibody, ×200. CD44: Cluster of differentiation 44
Figure 11
Figure 11
Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with intense tumor cell reaction to ALDH1A1. Immunolabeling with anti-ALDH1A1 antibody, ×200. ALDH1A1: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1
Figure 12
Figure 12
Well-differentiated colon adenocarcinoma with intensely CD24-positive cells. Immunolabeling with anti-CD24 antibody, ×200. CD24: Cluster of differentiation 24
Figure 13
Figure 13
Poorly differentiated colon adenocarcinoma with moderate immunohistochemical reaction to CD26 immunomarker. Immunolabeling with anti-CD26 antibody, ×200. CD26: Cluster of differentiation 26
Figure 14
Figure 14
Well-differentiated colon adenocarcinoma with intense reaction of tumor cells to p53 immunomarker. Immunolabeling with anti-p53 antibody, ×100
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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