Prognostic value of tumour budding in stomach cancers

The present study aimed to investigate the importance and prognostic value of tumour budding (TB) in Gastric Carcinoma (GC).

Pathologic grading of tumours was performed according to the criteria specified by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). Histopathologic types, histopathologic grading and all histopathologic characteristics were determined using the Lauren and World Health Organization (WHO) classifications. Forty-three surgically treated GC cases were examined in terms of TB according to the International Tumor Budding Consensus Conference (ITBCC) and budding grading [budding degree (Bd)] was performed. They were recorded as Bd1 (1-4 buddings), Bd2 (5-9 buddings) or Bd3 (10 buddings or more). Bd score, clinicopathologic parameters and prognostic factors were analysed.

There were 13 (30.2%) Bd1, 11 (25.6%) Bd2 and 19 (44.2%) Bd3 cases. A statistically significant relationship was found between Bd scores and pT, N, and histologic grade (P < .01, P < .05). In the Bd1 group, stage pT2 was statistically significantly more frequent than pT3 (P = .001). In the poorly differentiated group, Bd3 was statistically significantly higher than Bd1, but Bd1 was statistically significantly higher than Bd2 in the well-differentiated group (P = .001). In the N0 group, Bd1 was significantly higher than Bd2 and Bd3, whereas Bd2 was higher than Bd1 and Bd3 in the N2 group. Bd3 was higher than Bd1 and Bd2 in the N3 group (P = .001).

In the present study, Bd was statistically significantly related to characteristics such as pathologic stage, lymph node involvement, and grade. The data obtained here suggest that Bd can be applied to GC and it might contribute to the standardisation of diagnosis and prognostic factors.