Retrieved from Vol. 1, No. 1, 2025
Pages 20 -28
Received 27.06.2025
Revised 30.09.2025
Accepted 12.12.2025
Retrieved from Vol. 1, No. 1, 2025
Pages 20 -28
Abstract
Desmin, which was expressed by muscle cells, myofibroblasts and certain pathological cells, remained poorly investigated in the context of the morphogenesis of colorectal cancer – the third most common oncological disease in the world. The aim of the study was to examine the characteristics of desmin expression in colorectal carcinomas and to compare the intensity of this expression with tumour nodule size. During the study, 24 samples of malignant large-intestinal tumours were subjected to histological examination and were stained using the immunohistochemical method with mouse monoclonal antibodies against desmin. Desmin expression was identified in all analysed samples. Desmin was expressed both within tumour structures and in the surrounding stromal tissue of the organ. Quantitative heterogeneity of desmin expression was revealed, ranging from extensive to scarce across different samples. When the volumetric density of desmin was compared with tumour nodule area, it was found that the overall amount of expressed desmin was statistically significantly higher in samples with large tumour nodules. In addition, a tendency was observed towards an increase in the amount of desmin localised within tumour structures with increasing tumour area. The study also included a comparison of the presence of desmin in the tumour with the size of the tumour conglomerate. It was established that desmin was present within the tumour considerably more often in large tumour nodules than in samples with small tumours. The findings obtained in the course of the study indicated a potential possibility of using desmin to assess the risk of tumour progression, as well as its potential use as a prognostic marker
Keywords:
tumour volume, intermediate filament protein, stroma, immunohistochemical method, tumour nodule