Progressive loss of perivascular nerves adjacent to colorectal cancer

• Published in: European journal of surgical oncology Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 588 - 593
• Main Authors: CHAMARY, V. L, ROBSON, T, LOIZIDOU, M, BOULOS, P. B, BURNSTOCK, G
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier 01.09.2000
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arterioles - immunology; Arterioles - innervation; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - immunology; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide - immunology; Colon - blood supply; Colon - innervation; Colorectal Neoplasms - blood supply; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Digestive system; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Neoplasm Staging; Neuropeptide Y - immunology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Rectum - blood supply; Rectum - innervation; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Substance P - immunology; Tumors; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase - immunology; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - immunology; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Rectal disease; Carcinoma; Healthy subject; Arteriole; Innervation; Loss; Exploration; Malignant tumor; Colonic disease; Pathology; Biopsy; Rectum; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Colon; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0748-7983
• DOI: 10.1053/ejso.2000.0952

The perivascular innervation of arterioles in colorectal cancer and adjacent submucosa was investigated. Neurotransmitter markers, neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), were studied and immunoreactivity was compared with that of control normal tissue. There was absence of perivascular nerves within tumours and loss of perivascular innervation in the submucosa adjacent to the tumour. The pattern of loss varied for different transmitters. The loss was progressively greater with advancing tumour stage for NPY (controls 95%, Dukes' A 68%, Dukes>> B 13%, Dukes' C 6%) and VIP (50%, 23%, 20%, 17%). For TH there was extensive loss of innervation around tumours of all stages (69%, 5%, 7%, 0%). SP immunoreactive peri-arteriolar nerves were similar in control tissue (39%) and tissue adjacent to Dukes' A tumours (40%) but diminished to 19% and 0% in tissue adjacent to Dukes' B and C tumours, respectively. In none of the tissues was CGRP immunoreactivity above 4%. The mean distance over which there was reduced NPY immunoreactivity from the tumour edge was 2.43 mm for Dukes' A/B tumours compared with 7.20 mm for Dukes' C tumours; for VIP immunoreactivity this distance was 5.22 mm for Dukes' A/B tumours and 5.52 mm for Dukes' C tumours. The progressive loss, both in terms of vascular nerve immunoreactivity and distance from the tumour edge with tumour grade, suggests that the tumour itself may influence neural integrity in perivascular plexuses, perhaps via the secretion of an inhibitory factor.