Histological tumor necrosis (TN) has been reported to indicate a poor prognosis for different human cancers. It is generally accepted that TN results from chronic ischemic injury due to rapid tumor growth. However, whether insufficient tumor vascularization and inadequate tumor cell oxygenation are the only factors causing TN remains controversial. Mitotic catastrophe is considered to occur as a result of dysregulated/failed mitosis, leading to cell death. We hypothesize that mitotic catastrophe, induced by hypoxic stress, may lead to the TN which is observed in high grade carcinomas. The current review describes the morphological features of TN in malignant epithelial tumors. In addition, evidence regarding the involvement of mitotic catastrophe in the induction of TN in human carcinomas is discussed.
Keywords: carcinoma; histologic tumor necrosis; histopathology; mitotic catastrophe.