Open Access

Potential neuroendocrine differentiation in poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma: A hidden trait?

  • Authors:
    • Yuhan Rong
    • Ikuma Kato
    • Naoki Okubo
    • Sho Tsuyuki
    • Eriko Katsuta
    • Noritoshi Kobayashi
    • Kazuya Nakagawa
    • Mayumi Ozawa
    • Jun Watanabe
    • Atsushi Ishibe
    • Shoji Yamanaka
    • Satoshi Fujii
    • Itaru Endo
    • Yasushi Ichikawa
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 3, 2024     https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2024.2789
  • Article Number: 91
  • Copyright: © Rong et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the colon and rectum is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis that is characterized by distinct clinical and histopathological features that differ significantly from those of more prevalent adenocarcinomas. Poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma (PDC) is also rare and carries a poor prognosis. Considering the morphological similarities between these two rare, poorly differentiated cancers of the colon and rectum, it is plausible that certain cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosed as PDC may contain NEC as well. In the present study, cases of CRC that were diagnosed as PDC at our institution were investigated, searching for patients who exhibited NEC characteristics based on the expression of neuroendocrine markers (NEMs), including chromogranin A, synaptophysin and insulinoma‑associated 1 (INSM1), and the loss of retinoblastoma 1 (Rb). Of 816 total CRC cases, 74 cases (9.1%) were identified as PDC. These were further divided into 13 (17.5%) cases that were positive for NEMs and others. Of these 13 cases, the expression rates for chromogranin A and synaptophysin were 69.2% each, while that of INSM1 was 100%. Upon re‑examination of the 13 PDC cases, two cases were morphologically identified as NEC, including one large‑ and one small‑cell NEC. A total of two cases showed loss of Rb in their PDC lesions. NEM positivity was considered an independent prognostic factor in the 74 PDC cases. Among these cases, some may exhibit characteristics of NEC. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms using CRC that harbors both PDC and NEC will be a task for future research.
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December-2024
Volume 21 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 2049-9450
Online ISSN:2049-9469

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Spandidos Publications style
Rong Y, Kato I, Okubo N, Tsuyuki S, Katsuta E, Kobayashi N, Nakagawa K, Ozawa M, Watanabe J, Ishibe A, Ishibe A, et al: Potential neuroendocrine differentiation in poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma: A hidden trait?. Mol Clin Oncol 21: 91, 2024.
APA
Rong, Y., Kato, I., Okubo, N., Tsuyuki, S., Katsuta, E., Kobayashi, N. ... Ichikawa, Y. (2024). Potential neuroendocrine differentiation in poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma: A hidden trait?. Molecular and Clinical Oncology, 21, 91. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2024.2789
MLA
Rong, Y., Kato, I., Okubo, N., Tsuyuki, S., Katsuta, E., Kobayashi, N., Nakagawa, K., Ozawa, M., Watanabe, J., Ishibe, A., Yamanaka, S., Fujii, S., Endo, I., Ichikawa, Y."Potential neuroendocrine differentiation in poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma: A hidden trait?". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 21.6 (2024): 91.
Chicago
Rong, Y., Kato, I., Okubo, N., Tsuyuki, S., Katsuta, E., Kobayashi, N., Nakagawa, K., Ozawa, M., Watanabe, J., Ishibe, A., Yamanaka, S., Fujii, S., Endo, I., Ichikawa, Y."Potential neuroendocrine differentiation in poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma: A hidden trait?". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 21, no. 6 (2024): 91. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2024.2789