Clinicopathologic factors and nuclear morphometry as independent prognosticators in KIT-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumors

J Histochem Cytochem. 2008 Feb;56(2):139-45. doi: 10.1369/jhc.7A7333.2007. Epub 2007 Oct 15.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are mesenchymal neoplasms found in the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether morphometric measurements could complement tumor size and mitotic activity in risk evaluation. Nuclear roundness and ellipse axis ratio were found to correlate with tumor size, mitotic activity, nuclear atypia, and hemorrhage. Morphometric variables in 422 GISTs were significant for overall survival in univariate analyses but did not retain independent significance in multivariate analyses incorporating mitotic count and tumor size. Traditional variables, together with sex, location of primary tumor, and nuclear atypia, seem to be the best parameters for prognostic evaluation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Cell Nucleus / pathology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / diagnosis
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / pathology*
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / ultrastructure
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitosis
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / metabolism*

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit