From the study of 20 specimens of micro-
signet ring cell carcinoma of stomach, it was noticed that fusiform epithelioid or round monocytoid
carcinoma cells were usually found prior to the appearance of signet ring cells. Therefore, from the point of view in morphogenesis, cells of this
tumor might be considered better to be differentiated into two stages--early and late stage, which not only represented a morphological evolution of these
carcinoma cells, but also expressed their
biological characteristics, as it was shown that the expressions of associated
antigen to MCab MG-7 and receptors of PNA, PHA reached the highest degree in the monocytoid
carcinoma cells, but was markedly attenuated in the signet ring cells and the difference present was 20 times quantitatively additionally, the nuclear
DNA content was increased significantly in
cancer cells of the early stage, especially the monocytoid cells, with a pattern of
aneuploid and
polyploid. On the contrary, signet ring cells usually belong to diploid. It seemed logical that monocytoid
carcinoma cells would have the greatest value in the early diagnosis of this
carcinoma.