Yuri Akishima-Fukasawa, MD, PhD
Pathology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan

Yukihiro Nakanishi, MD, PhD
Pathology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan

Yoshinori Ino
Pathology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan

Yoshihiro Moriya, MD, PhD
Surgery Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo

Yae Kanai, MD, PhD
Pathology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan

Setsuo Hirohashi, MD, PhD
Pathology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan

Keywords: CXCL12; Invasive front; Immunohistochemistry; Colorectal carcinoma; Prognosis

Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:

• define the World Health Organization criteria for the histologic grading of the differentiation of colorectal carcinoma.
• discuss the role of examination of the invasive front of colorectal carcinoma for tumor budding and how this may pertain to prognosis.
• discuss the potential application of immunohistochemical staining for CXCL12 to highlight tumor budding in colorectal carcinoma.