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Oncocytic modifications in rectal adenocarcinomas after radio and chemotherapy

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Abstract

The purpose of the study is to highlight oncocytic modifications in rectal adenocarcinomas and evaluate a possible correlation with preoperative radiochemotherapy (RCT). Twenty-eight cases of advanced rectal carcinoma, treated preoperatively by 5-fluorouracil (200–225 mg/m2) and 44–46 Gy in 22–23 fractions, were studied. All patients underwent biopsy before RCT. Surgery was performed within 6 weeks after RCT. In all cases oncocytic modifications were searched for on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and at immunohistochemistry using an antimitochondrial antibody. In addition, in two cases, both pre- and post-RCT tissues were examined at electron microscopy. All tumors were adenocarcinomas. In pre-RCT biopsies, oncocytic changes were difficult to find on H&E, while the antimitochondrial antibody strongly stained numerous neoplastic cells (mean 48.4%). In post-RCT surgical specimens, oncocytic changes were detected in 24 out of 28 cases on H&E and the antimitochondrial antibody stained most of the residual neoplastic cells (mean 76.7%). Ultrastructural examination revealed large and bizarre mitochondria inside tumor cells both in pre- and post-RCT tissues. In conclusion, the present data suggest that rectal adenocarcinomas are “mitochondrion-rich” tumors. After preoperative RCT, residual neoplastic cells acquire a definite oncocytic phenotype.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Anatomic Pathology “M. Malpighi”, University of Bologna, Bellaria Hospital, Via Altura 3, 40139, Bologna, Italy

    Andrea Ambrosini-Spaltro & Maria P. Foschini

  2. Unit of Radiotherapy, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy

    Fabrizio Salvi & Giovanni P. Frezza

  3. Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Christine M. Betts

  4. Department of Gastroenterology, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy

    Antonio Piemontese

  5. Department of General Surgery, General Hospital, Budrio, Bologna, Italy

    Pietro Del Prete

  6. Unit of Anatomic Pathology, Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy

    Cristina Baldoni

  7. Post-graduate Medical School in Anatomic Pathology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Giuseppe Viale

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  1. Andrea Ambrosini-Spaltro
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  8. Maria P. Foschini
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  9. Giuseppe Viale
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Correspondence to Maria P. Foschini.

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Ambrosini-Spaltro, A., Salvi, F., Betts, C.M. et al. Oncocytic modifications in rectal adenocarcinomas after radio and chemotherapy. Virchows Arch 448, 442–448 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-005-0137-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-005-0137-6

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