Expanding the scope of tumor budding

Abstract

The tendency of neoplastic glands to infiltrate the stroma individually or in small clusters at the invading front of a tumor is termed “tumor budding.”[1] In the context of colorectal adenocarcinoma, tumor budding is graded according to the number of buds (defined as aggregates of 1–4 cells) in a 0.785 mm2 hotspot.[2] Tumor budding can be considered a marker of the invasiveness of a tumor, with tumors displaying higher numbers of buds being associated with more frequent lymph nodal metastases, as well as distant metastases and local recurrence.[2]