Andrea Remo1, M P Cecchini2, D Benati2, P Bernardi2, E Manfrin3, G Giordano4, F Bonomi3, P Parcesepe3, M Fassan5, R Colombari6, A Sbarbati2, M Pancione7. 1. Pathology Unit, Service Department, ULSS9 "Scaligera", Via Valverde 42, 37122, Verona, Italy. remino76@yahoo.it. 2. Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. 3. Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. 4. Oncology Division IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo Foggia, Italy. 5. Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, PD, Italy. 6. Pathology Unit, Service Department, ULSS9 "Scaligera", Via Valverde 42, 37122, Verona, Italy. 7. Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, Benevento, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rhabdoid colorectal carcinoma (RC) is a rare lesion localized to the proximal colon of patients with a mean age at diagnosis of around 70 years. This tumor shows an aggressive behavior with an overall survival period shorter than 12 months. The diagnostic hallmark is the presence of rhabdoid cells. Alterations in chromatin remodeling (SMARCB1) and in the centrosome structure (CROCC) are reported in RC usually BRAFmut and MSI-H. RKO intestinal neoplastic cells culture (BRAFmut, SMARCB1wt, MSI-H) with CROCC knockdown exhibit rhabdoid features and develop prominent projections from the edge of the cell. METHODS: Here, we investigated two cases of CROCCmutSMARCB1wt RC by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM). RESULTS: TEM confirmed the diagnostic presence of intermediate cytoplasmic filaments and nucleolar margination. SEM showed cellular protrusions (lamellipodia) in the intercellular spaces not evident at light microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: These protrusions CROCC-related might represent the pathogenetic mechanism underlying the rhabdoid aggressive behavior, independently of tumor staging. To our knowledge, the SEM technique was applied in the study of this neoplasm for the first time.
BACKGROUND:Rhabdoid colorectal carcinoma (RC) is a rare lesion localized to the proximal colon of patients with a mean age at diagnosis of around 70 years. This tumor shows an aggressive behavior with an overall survival period shorter than 12 months. The diagnostic hallmark is the presence of rhabdoid cells. Alterations in chromatin remodeling (SMARCB1) and in the centrosome structure (CROCC) are reported in RC usually BRAFmut and MSI-H. RKO intestinal neoplastic cells culture (BRAFmut, SMARCB1wt, MSI-H) with CROCC knockdown exhibit rhabdoid features and develop prominent projections from the edge of the cell. METHODS: Here, we investigated two cases of CROCCmutSMARCB1wt RC by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM). RESULTS: TEM confirmed the diagnostic presence of intermediate cytoplasmic filaments and nucleolar margination. SEM showed cellular protrusions (lamellipodia) in the intercellular spaces not evident at light microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: These protrusions CROCC-related might represent the pathogenetic mechanism underlying the rhabdoid aggressive behavior, independently of tumor staging. To our knowledge, the SEM technique was applied in the study of this neoplasm for the first time.