1. Changes in mitochondrial shape and distribution in gastric carcinoma: A morphologic, Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study. Caruso RA, Napoli P * Dipartimento di Patologia Umana, Policlinico Universitario, *Servizio di Anatomia Patologica Ospedale Piemonte, Messina

2. Introduction We evaluated the antimitochondrial antibody 113-1 and electron microscopy in an attempt to ascertain differences in mitochondrial morphology and distribution in intestinal type gastric adenocarcinomas (16 cases). (Fig 1) We evaluated the antimitochondrial antibody 113-1 and electron microscopy in an attempt to ascertain differences in mitochondrial morphology and distribution in intestinal type gastric adenocarcinomas (16 cases). (Fig 1)

3. Figure 1 Figure 1

4. Immunohistochemistry revealed a prominent supranuclear mitochondrial reactivity in 9 cases (Figs 1,2). (Mitochondrial-rich gastric adenocarcinomas) Immunohistochemistry revealed a prominent supranuclear mitochondrial reactivity in 9 cases (Figs 1,2). (Mitochondrial-rich gastric adenocarcinomas)

7. Irregular cytoplasmic mitochondrial immunoreactivity was found in the other cases. The same pattern of mitochondrial staining was confirmed in the ultrastructural study (Fig 3). Irregular cytoplasmic mitochondrial immunoreactivity was found in the other cases. The same pattern of mitochondrial staining was confirmed in the ultrastructural study (Fig 3).

8. Correlation with the survival of patients revealed that only one patient with mitochondria -rich died due to metastatic disease during the follow-up period (median, 34 months), which was the case in 6 of the 7 patients with mitochondria- poor neoplasms. Correlation with the survival of patients revealed that only one patient with mitochondria -rich died due to metastatic disease during the follow-up period (median, 34 months), which was the case in 6 of the 7 patients with mitochondria- poor neoplasms.

9. Our data provide further evidence that differentiated (intestinal) gastric adenocarcinoma may be separated into two different entities, a rich- and poor mitochondria variant, which markedly differ in their phenotype, and prognosis. Our data provide further evidence that differentiated (intestinal) gastric adenocarcinoma may be separated into two different entities, a rich- and poor mitochondria variant, which markedly differ in their phenotype, and prognosis.