The analysis of morphofunctions characteristics can be useful in the colorectal cancer evolution, especially if related to the serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels. The research of chromosomes and genes instability, as well as the alterations of tissue protein codified, makes attractive the possibility to use potentially valid functional factors as variables for the understanding of colorectal carcinoma prognosis. OBJECTIVE: To consider classes based on morphologic and functional colorectal carcinoma characteristics, valuing serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels prognostic power. METHOD: Third-five patients in different stages of colorectal carcinoma underwent operations from 2001 to 2007. Serum CEA levels, histological grade, tissue CEA cell polarization capacity were analyzed. Colorectal carcinoma was classified according to TNM stages. The morphofunctional classification was determined by the combination between histological grade and antigen polarization, morphofunctional stages have been based in association between morphofunctional classification and stages TNM, by punctuation attributed to each one classification. The results had been analyzed by variance analysis, correlation test and survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier and Cox Model Regression), adopting p<0.05. RESULTS: Morphofunctional stages survival curve resulted similar to the joined ones in stages TNM. It had relation between new classification proposed and patient survival time. They had observed relation among survival time, morphofunctional classification and serum carcinoembryonic antigen. CONCLUSION: Morphofunctional classification is valid for colorectal cancer patient's prognostic evaluation and is related with the serum CEA levels.
Carcinoembryonic antigen; Immunohistochemistry; Survival Analysis; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Colorectal carcinoma
