LAUSR

Numerous studies have shown that the differentiation of malignant tumor is an important prognostic factor (1). In the tumor staging [including colorectal cancer (CRC)], a two-tiered classification system of histologic grade (low grade = well and moderate differentiation; high grade = poor differentiation) is recommended because it has favorable reproducibility and prognostic significance. In addition, there is evidence showing that the risk to relapse is higher for high-grade CRC after tumor resection, which results in poor prognosis (2). It has been shown that pre-operative radiotherapy and/or chemoradiotherapy may improve the local control and disease-free survival in high-risk CRC patients (1). However, neoadjuvant therapies may still cause serious side effects (1). Thus, the differentiation of high-grade CRC from low-grade CRC will be beneficial to maximize the benefit and avoid unnecessary side effects of pre-operatively excessive treatment, helpful to identify patients with high risk for recurrence before treatment and crucial for the individualized therapy, which hence improves outcomes. The histologic grade determined by pathologic assessment of biopsy samples may offer some information Original Article