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Abnormal patterns of mucus secretion in apparently normal mucosa of large intestine with carcinoma
Author(s) -
Filipe M. I.,
Branfoot A. C.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197408)34:2<282::aid-cncr2820340211>3.0.co;2-w
Subject(s) - mucus , mucin , pathology , carcinoma , intestinal mucosa , epithelium , large intestine , malignant transformation , carcinogenesis , biology , medicine , cancer , ecology
Our previous studies have shown that histologically normal mucosa adjacent to carcinomas of the large intestine is often abnormal histochemically. This „transitional” mucosa, as we termed it, is characterized by an increase of sialomucins, accompanied usually by a decrease or absence of the sulphomucins which are predominant in the normal mucosa of the large intestine. The extent and intensity of these mucin changes were not clear, and so we have mapped them by cutting strips of mucosa from the whole length of 25 surgical specimens. This work confirms that the pattern of mucus secretion is altered around carcinomas, but also shows similar changes in patches of mucosa at a distance from frank tumors. The increase in sialomucins is directly related to the extent of invasion by a carcinoma according to Dukes' classification, but not to its degree of differentiation or to its histologic pattern. It is suggested that the mucin changes may reflect a transformation to a fetal type of epithelium and indicate an early stage in carcinogenesis. The practical value of these findings in diagnosis and prognosis is discussed.