Polymorph phagocytosis by cancer cells in an endometrial adenoacanthoma.

A case of endometrial adenoacanthoma is reported in which two histologically distinct populations of cells were identified in the primary tumor. The two cell types differed in that one had phagocytosed large numbers of polymorphonuclear leucocytes. A subsequent skin metastasis was composed entirely of cells capable of phagocytosing polymorphs. The ability of cancer cells to phagocytose other cellular elements may provide a histologic marker for the presence of surface membrane abnormalities in these cells. The possibility that this may be associated with metastasis is considered.