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An assessment of proliferative and enzyme activity in transitional mucosa adjacent to colonic cancer
Author(s) -
Lawson Michael J.,
White Leonie M.,
Coyle Peter,
Butler Ross N.,
RobertsThomson Ian C.,
Conyers Robert A. J.
Publication year - 1989
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(19890901)64:5<1061::aid-cncr2820640517>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - intestinal mucosa , lactate dehydrogenase , pathology , ornithine decarboxylase , alkaline phosphatase , cancer , medicine , biology , enzyme , biochemistry
The mucosa within 2 cm of cancers of the large bowel (transitional mucosa) shows histologic and histochemical changes which may indicate premalignant change. In this study, the authors used specimens from resected colonic tissue to compare morphometric, proliferative, and enzyme markers in transitional mucosa with those in cancer tissue and with those in uninvolved mucosa at least 10 cm from the cancer. Proliferative activity was assessed using the Ki 67 monoclonal antibody technique whereas a variety of methods were used to determine enzyme activities in mucosal homogenates. When compared to uninvolved mucosa, crypts in transitional mucosa contained greater numbers of cells, were significantly deeper and wider and were more likely to be branched. However, crypts in transitional mucosa had a significantly lower labelling index using the Ki 67 technique and there was no evidence of a shift in the proliferative zone towards the bowel lumen. The activities of ornithine decarboxylase, thymidine kinase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase were similar in transitional and uninvolved mucosa. Cancer tissue showed significantly higher levels of activity for ornithine decarboxylase and lactate dehydrogenase. Transitional mucosa showed morphometric changes but there were no proliferative or enzyme markers to suggest a higher than expected risk for malignant change.