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Flow-cytometric analysis of the DNA-content in paraffin-embedded tissue from colorectal carcinomas and its prognostic significance

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Virchows Archiv B

Summary

The nuclear DNA content of 163 colorectal carcinomas was determined by flow-cytometry (FCM) on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. DNA-aneuploidy was found in 97 cases (59.5%), in which no statistically significant correlations with sex, mean age, tumour stage (Dukes and pTNM) and tumour grade were noted. The frequency of aneuploidy was significantly higher in patients less than 70 years of age (p < 0.01) and in tumours localized in the left colon and rectum (p< 0.002), irrespective of their stage. The tumours in which different areas could be analysed (n = 80) showed a heterogeneous DNA-ploidy pattern in 18%. Comparison of the DNA content in primary tumours and in lymph node metastases (n = 49) showed a difference in DNA-ploidy in 38% of the DNA-aneuploid tumours, but in only 6% of the DNA-diploid carcinomas (p<0.02). DNA-aneuploid carcinomas tended to show a higher rate of local recurrence and were associated with an unfavourable prognosis (p = 0.04) in those patients in which complete resection of their tumours was possible (n = 72). The significantly higher mortality of patients with DNA-aneuploid carcinomas of stage pT3, as well as those with Dukes stage A and B tumours indicates that DNA-aneuploidy may be a stage-independent additional risk factor in colorectal cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Lubeck, W-2400, Lubeck, Federal Republic of Germany

    G. Baretton, J. Gille & U. Lohrs

  2. Department of Surgery, Medical University of Lubeck, W-2400, Lubeck, Federal Republic of Germany

    E. Oevermann

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  1. G. Baretton
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  2. J. Gille
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  3. E. Oevermann
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  4. U. Lohrs
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Baretton, G., Gille, J., Oevermann, E. et al. Flow-cytometric analysis of the DNA-content in paraffin-embedded tissue from colorectal carcinomas and its prognostic significance. Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathol 60, 123–131 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02899537

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02899537

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