ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To demonstrate the prognostic value of neuroendocrine clone on colorectal carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The immunochemistry methods were used to investigate the percent of neuroendocrine carcinoma in 73 human colorectal carcinoma. Retrospective analysis and follow-up were carried out in all patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In all 73 cases of colorectal carcinoma, the total percentage of neuroendocrine carcinoma was 17.8%. Neuroendocrine carcinoma included 11 synapse positive, 6 chromogranin positive and 4 both positive. The major factors related to the prevalence of neuroendocrine carcinoma were sex, age, tumor location and Dukes' stage. And the 1-year survival rate of the patients who suffered from neuroendocrine carcinoma is obviously lower than that of other colorectal carcinoma.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The neuroendocrine carcinoma is a special kind of human colorectal carcinoma, and neuroendocrine clone may be a new marker of the malignant potency. The neuroendocrine clone has its prognostic value and may be a novel therapeutic target.</p>