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Comparison of Phenotypic and Genotypic Features in Human Primary Large Bowel Carcinomas and Lymph Node Metastases¹

Departments of Pathology [J. W. A., C. P. H. J. V., F. T. B.], Internal Medicine [B. S., G. H. B.], and Surgery [T. W.], University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands

In order to test the contention that metastasis is a selective process and that therefore metastases might show a more restricted pattern of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics than primary tumors, we compared the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen, Ca 19-9, secretory component, serotonin, and mucin production as well as flow cytometric data on DNA content and percentage of S-phase cells in 87 primary large bowel carcinomas and their lymph node metastases.

In a majority of the cases primary tumors and their metastases were largely identical with regard to the examined phenotypic features. In discrepant cases, however, metastases did not invariably show a more restricted pattern than primary tumors, indicating high differentiational plasticity of primary and metastatic colorectal cancer cells. In contrast, in a number of cases genotypic discrepancies were observed.

We conclude that phenotypic characteristics of colorectal cancer cells cannot be used to study the pathogenesis of lymph node metastasis. Genotypic studies, however, suggest that lymphogenic metastasis may be a selective event.

¹ Source of financial support: Grant RUL 82-1 from the Netherland Cancer Foundation (KWF).

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Pathology, University Hospital Maastricht, P. O. Box 1918, 6201 BX Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Received 12/ 5/86. Revised 4/ 9/87. Accepted 5/18/87.