Bozena Lackowska(1), Aleksander Niezabitowski(1), Janusz Rys(1), Jan Skolyszewski(2), Andrzej Sokolowski(3), Andrzej Stelmach(4), Andrzej Gruchala(1), Agnieszka Jaszcz-Gruchala(1), Dorota Markiewicz(1)

Evaluation of DNA Content and Proliferative Activity in Prediction of Short-Term Relapses in Mammary Carcinoma: a Prospective Study

1)Department of Pathology,
2)Department of Radiotherapy, Oncology Center,
3)Department of Statistics, University of Economics,
4)Department of Surgery, Oncology Center, Krakow

Abstract

DNA content according to six various ploidy classes was analysed by flow cytometry on fresh tumor tissue in 701 unselected, consecutive breast cancers. Age, menopausal status, tumor size, histology and in particular nodal status were also taken into consideration. Diploid and nondiploid mammary carcinomas differed significantly in values of proliferative indicators. In node positive patients nondiploid tumors were more frequent. In node negative and node positive breast cancer patients tumor grade strongly influenced disease free survival and in the last group hypertriploidy (1.6 < DI < 1.8) was also an independent prognostic factor. The combination of tumor grade and hyperdiploidy permitted differentiation of three groups of node positive patients, differing in the risk of relapses.

Address for correspondence and reprint requests to:
Prof. A. Niezabitowski, M. D.,
Department of Pathology, Oncology Center,
Garncarska 11, 31-115 Krakow.
Tel: (48 12) 421 20 98
Fax: (48 12) 422 66 80