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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Orthotopic Mouse Model of Colorectal Cancer
Published on: December 4, 2007
Micropapillary Structures in Colorectal Cancer: An Anoikis-resistant Subpopulation
Madhura Patankar1,2, Sara Väyrynen1,2, Anne Tuomisto1,2,3
1Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Background/Aim:
Micropapillary structures (MIPs) are focal piles of columnar cells without extracellular matrix contact, and common in serrated colorectal carcinoma (CRC). In order to characterize biology of MIPs in colorectal cancer (CRC), the proliferation and apoptosis rates, and survivin expression were compared between MIPs and other cancer epithelial cells of CRC (non-MIPs).
Materials And Methods:
We assessed 46 samples of normal colorectal mucosa, 62 carcinomas and 54 polyps for proliferation (Ki67), apoptosis (M30), and survivin expression by immunohistochemistry.
Results:
MIPs in carcinoma showed lower rates of proliferation and apoptosis than non-MIPs. A low rate of apotosis in MIPs was associated with poor prognosis in local carcinoma. In normal crypts, nuclear-to-cytoplasmic transition of survivin indicated epithelial cell maturation. Cancer cases showed increased cytoplasmic expression of survivin than normal mucosa and polyps. However, MIPs showed lower nuclear and cytoplasmic survivin expression than non-MIPs. Our findings suggest that MIPs represent a biologically distinct subpopulation of carcinoma cells with features of anoikis resistance and possibly quiescence.
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