Changes in mitochondrial shape and distribution in Changes in mitochondrial shape and distribution in gastric carcinoma: A morphologic, gastric carcinoma: A morphologic,

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study. Caruso RA, Napoli P *Caruso RA, Napoli P *

Dipartimento di Patologia Umana,Dipartimento di Patologia Umana,Policlinico Universitario, Policlinico Universitario,

*Servizio di Anatomia Patologica*Servizio di Anatomia PatologicaOspedale Piemonte,Ospedale Piemonte,

MessinaMessina

IntroductionIntroduction

•We evaluated the antimitochondrial We evaluated the antimitochondrial antibody 113-1 and electron antibody 113-1 and electron microscopy in an attempt to microscopy in an attempt to ascertain differences in ascertain differences in mitochondrial morphology and mitochondrial morphology and distribution in intestinal type gastric distribution in intestinal type gastric adenocarcinomas (16 cases). (Fig 1)adenocarcinomas (16 cases). (Fig 1)

• Figure 1Figure 1

•Immunohistochemistry Immunohistochemistry revealed a prominent revealed a prominent supranuclear mitochondrial supranuclear mitochondrial reactivity in 9 cases (Figs reactivity in 9 cases (Figs 1,2). (Mitochondrial-rich 1,2). (Mitochondrial-rich gastric adenocarcinomas)gastric adenocarcinomas)

• Irregular cytoplasmic mitochondrial Irregular cytoplasmic mitochondrial immunoreactivity was found in the immunoreactivity was found in the other cases. The same pattern of other cases. The same pattern of mitochondrial staining was confirmed mitochondrial staining was confirmed in the ultrastructural study (Fig 3). in the ultrastructural study (Fig 3).

•Correlation with the survival of Correlation with the survival of patients revealed that only one patients revealed that only one patient with mitochondria -rich died patient with mitochondria -rich died due to metastatic disease during the due to metastatic disease during the follow-up period (median , 34 follow-up period (median , 34 months), which was the case in 6 of months), which was the case in 6 of the 7 patients with mitochondria-the 7 patients with mitochondria-poor neoplasmspoor neoplasms. .

• Our data provide further evidence that Our data provide further evidence that differentiated (intestinal) gastric differentiated (intestinal) gastric adenocarcinoma may be separated into adenocarcinoma may be separated into two different entities, a rich- and poor two different entities, a rich- and poor mitochondria variant, which markedly mitochondria variant, which markedly differ in their phenotype, and prognosis. differ in their phenotype, and prognosis.