Liver metastases from colorectal adenocarcinomas grow in three patterns with different angiogenesis and desmoplasia

• DOI: 10.1002/path.966.abs
• Publication Date: 2002-08-25T21:20:09Z
• Authors: Peter B. Vermeulen; Cecile Colpaert; Roberto Salgado; Ruben Royers; Hilde Hellemans; Eva Van den Heuvel; Gerda Goovaerts; Luc Y. Dirix; Eric Van Marck
• Keywords: Desmoplasia; Parenchyma

The liver is a highly vascularized organ which frequently hosts metastases in patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas. hypothesis of this study that the hypoxic drive angiogenesis might be minimal or absent those growing are capable preserving stromal structure, including numerous sinusoidal blood vessels. Representative paraffin sections from 26 adenocarcinoma were investigated. Three different growth patterns found. In desmoplastic and pushing (42% 46% all metastases, respectively), architecture parenchyma was not preserved. replacement pattern (12% cases), reticulin conserved within at tumour–liver interface. endothelial cells vessels near interface type did express CD34, nor they surrounded by alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive mural cells. patterns, 23% 52% area covered pericytes. fraction proliferating low (about 3%), compared (11%). Tumour cell apoptosis highest pushing-type inversely correlated microvessel density metastases. ratio tumour fraction, roughly representing degree angiogenesis-dependent growth, three- to four-fold higher replacement-type other summary, present has demonstrated heterogeneous group, predict immature vessels, cells, apoptotic expands co-opting stroma liver. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.