TY - JOUR T1 - Nuclear Area is a Prognostic Determinant in Advanced Colorectal Cancer JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 3083 LP - 3088 VL - 25 IS - 4 AU - ABDELBASET BUHMEIDA AU - RAIJA RISTAMÄKI AU - HANAN LAMLUM AU - RIYAD BENDARDAF AU - SUVI HEIKKILÄ AU - YRJÖ COLLAN AU - KARI SYRJÄNEN AU - SEPPO PYRHÖNEN Y1 - 2005/07/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/4/3083.abstract N2 - Background: The prognostic value of morphometric nuclear features in Dukes' Stages B/C and D colorectal cancer (CRC) was assessed. Patients and Methods: Primary tumours from 86 CRC patients were analysed, using an image overlay drawing system (Prodit Morphometry Program), for the following nuclear features: area, perimeter, diameter, form factor, roundness. Results: The median nuclear area (NA) was 104.6 μm2 (range 57.2 - 237.2 μm2). The NA was larger in patients with lymph node metastasis (p<0.02). Altogether, 43% of the patients showed clinical response to irinotecan-based chemotherapy. All six patients with complete response (CR) had a NA above the median (p<0.03). The disease-specific survival of the patients with a NA above the median was significantly better than in patients with smaller NA (p<0.02). Conclusion: Using the median NA as the cut-off value seems to effectively discriminate patients who are likely to respond to irinotecan-based chemotherapy (with improved prognosis) from those who are non-responsive and develop progressive disease. Copyright© 2005 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved ER -