Modifications of nuclear envelope in tumour cells of human gastric carcinomas: an ultrastructural study

BACKGROUND: Various nuclear envelope derivatives, such as the annulate lamellae, the intranuclear tubules as well as the nuclear projections and pockets may be observed electron microscopically in tumour cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a series of eight gastric adenocarcinomas, ultrastructural features of nuclear envelope changes were analyzed and correlated to the biology of the tumours. RESULTS: Histologically, three tumours were intestinal-type adenocarcinomas and showed annulate lamellae in the cytoplasm of some tumor cells. Five tumors were mixed-type adenocarcinomas, with a solid growth pattern; two of these tumours were characterized by the presence of intranuclear tubules, whereas the remaining three tumours exhibited nuclear pockets and projections. Seven out of eight patients died due to metastatic disease during the follow-up period (median 31 months). CONCLUSION: Ultrastructural evaluation of pleomorphism of the nuclear envelope may be an ancillary method for the pathologist in the study of nuclear grading of gastric carcinomas.