DNA flow cytometryn in colorectal carcinomas: Egyptian experience

ABSTRACT

The prognostic value of flow cytometric ploidy and S- phase measurements together with various morphological characteristics of the tumors were investigated in the study of 40 colorectal carcinomas. Repeated measurements of 324 paraffin embedded or fresh samples from the 40 tumors demonstrated the high reproducibility of ploidy and S-phase analysis. Tumor heterogeneity showing diploid and aneuploid cell population or aneuploid cell population with various ploidy values by measuring a mean of 4.6 samples/tumor was found in 40%, while the proportion of aneuploid tumors increased significantly with the grade but not with the stage of the tumors. The percentage of S- phase cells was correlated with the stage but not with the grade. It was found that staging, ploidy level, percentage of S-phase, histopathological types and grading had a prognostic value after a follow up of 24 months. Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model revealed independent prognostic value for Dukes's stage and ploidy level