Pleomorphism (cytology)

Pleomorphism is a term used in histology and cytopathology to describe variability in the size, shape and staining of cells and/or their nuclei. Several key determinants of cell and nuclear size, like ploidy and the regulation of cellular metabolism, are commonly disrupted in tumors.[1] Therefore, cellular and nuclear pleomorphism is one of the earliest hallmarks of cancer progression and a feature characteristic of malignant neoplasms and dysplasia.[2][3] Certain benign cell types may also exhibit pleomorphism, e.g. neuroendocrine cells, Arias-Stella reaction.

Not to be confused with Pleomorphism (microbiology).
A micrograph showing cells with marked nuclear shape and size variation, a component of nuclear pleomorphism.

Despite the prevalence of pleomorphism in human pathology, its role in disease progression is unclear. In epithelial tissue, pleomorphism in cellular size can induce packing defects and disperse aberrant cells.[4] But the consequence of atypical cell and nuclear morphology in other tissues is unknown.

See also

References
  1. Schmoller, Kurt M.; Skotheim, Jan M. (December 2015). "The Biosynthetic Basis of Cell Size Control". Trends Cell Biol. 25 (12): 793–802. doi:10.1016/j.tcb.2015.10.006. PMID 26573465.
  2. Travis, W.D.; Brambilla, B.; Burke, A.P; Marx, A.; Nicholson, A.G. WHO Classification of Tumours of the Lung, Pleura, Thymus and Heart. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer. ISBN 978-92-832-2436-5.
  3. El-Naggar, A.K.; Chan, J.C.K.; Grandis, J.R.; Takata, T.; Slootweg, P.J. WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumours. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer. ISBN 978-92-832-2438-9. Archived from the original on 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  4. Ramanathan, Subramanian P.; Krajnc, Matej; Gibson, Matthew C. (October 2019). "Cell-Size Pleomorphism Drives Aberrant Clone Dispersal in Proliferating Epithelia". Developmental Cell. 51 (1): 49–61.e4. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2019.08.005. PMID 31495693.
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