Histological and fine structural features of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas in relation to growth and prognosis: studies in xenografted tumours and clinico-histopathological correlation in a series of 75 cases

Histology and fine structure of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas were assessed with respect to their significance for tumour growth and prognosis. The histological parameters included glandular differentiation, nuclear anaplasia, nuclear size, and mitotic activity (number of mitoses per high power field). Using these criteria three grades of malignancy were distinguished. They correlated well with the growth kinetics of seven human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas transplanted into nude mice. The tumour doubling time of a G 3 carcinoma was about half that of a G 1 carcinoma. On electron microscopy the tumour grade was reflected in the degree of functional differentiation of the neoplastic…