Prognostic significance of tumor budding in gastrointestinal tumors

Abstract

Tumor budding describes the presence of single tumor cells or small tumor cell clusters at the invasion front of carcinomas. It is currently thought to be the result of epithelial–mesenchymal transformation. Tumor budding can be appreciated histologically during routine evaluation of malignant polyps or surgical specimens of malignant tumors. Many studies have been published assessing cancers in all locations from the esophagus to the rectum, almost always reporting similar results. This seems especially remarkable as a generally accepted definition of how budding must be evaluated is still lacking. Regardless of the location, tumor budding generally is associated with nodal metastases and aggressive behavior, and it is mostly independent from other adverse factors. While the prognostic value of tumor budding is evident, especially in stage II colorectal cancers, it still has no therapeutic implications. This is owing to the heterogeneity of the performed studies and the lack of oncological studies, which are urgently needed.

Keywords::

• colorectal cancer
• esophageal cancer
• gastric cancer
• gastrointestinal cancer
• prognosis
• rectal cancer
• risk factors
• tumor budding

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Hallie Kretsinger for reading and revising the manuscript as a native English speaker.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.