3 research outputs found
Comparative study of serotonin and bombesin in adenocarcinomas and neuroendocrine tumors of the colon
The aim of this study was to investigate serotonin and bombesin
expression in colorectal adenocarcinomas and neuroendocrine colorectal
tumors to clarify their role in the progression of colon cancer. The
investigation was carried out by electron microscope
immunocytochemistry, The ultrastructural study revealed that some cases
of colorectal adenocarcinomas were characterized by the presence of
amphicrine cells containing endocrine granules and mucus granules.
Poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas and liver metastases were poorly
granulated compared with highly differentiated tumors. Neuroendocrine
tumors nevertheless were characterized by the presence of numerous
malignant neuroendocrine cells filled with secretory granules and mucus
granules, Bombesin appeared to be located in enterochromaffin-like
endocrine cells, which are primarily responsible for the production of
serotonin. In colorectal adenocarcinomas there was an inverse
correlation between serotonin levels and the degree of differentiation,
High serotonin levels characterized colorectal adenocarcinomas with
composite phenotype and colorectal neuroendocrine tumors. Increased
bombesin expression was correlated with colorectal adenocarcinomas
exhibiting poor histological grade and their liver metastases. In
conclusion, the findings suggest that high serotonin levels may be an
indicator of neuroendocrine differentiation, and bombesin may be a
useful marker for colorectal adenocarcinomas with aggressive behavior