Role of galectin-3 in adenocarcinoma liver metastasis.

Galectin-3 is a lactosamine-specific lectin that binds to laminin sugar-sites, and up-regulated expression of galectin-3 in primary colorectal cancer is involved in cancer progression and metastasis. Inhibitory effects of cell adhesion and liver metastasis of adenocarcinoma via portal vein by lectin-binding sugar and anti-galectin-3 antibody was examined to determine the role of galectin-laminin binding in cancer liver metastasis. Highly metastatic adenocarcinoma cell lines XK4-A3 and RPMI4788 were used in in vitro cell attachment and nude mice liver metastatic experiments, and inhibitory effects of anti-galectin-3 antibody or lectin-binding sugars were examined. The in vitro adhesion assay demonstrated that the anti-galectin-3 antibody and alpha-lactose inhibited XK4-A3 and RPMI4788 cell adhesion to laminin in a dose-dependent manner. The liver metastasis of XK4-A3 and RPMI4788 was reduced 50 and 60%, respectively (P<0.001) by alpha-lactose treatment. Anti-galectin-3 antibody also inhibited liver metastasis in a dose-dependent manner, and maximum inhibition rate was 66% for XK4-A3 and 90% for RPMI4788. Galectin-3 plays an important role in liver metastasis of adenocarcinoma by the mechanisms of galectin-3 binding to laminin. Inhibition of galectin-3 on cancer cell surface induces reduced cell attachment to laminin and liver metastasis.

Ley glycolipid-recognizing monoclonal antibody inhibits procoagulant activity and metastasis of human adenocarcinoma.

Tumor procoagulant is associated with cancer at advanced stages of malignancy such as infiltration and metastasis. In the present study, we investigated the role of Ley glycolipid in the mechanism of cancer metastasis. Ley glycolipid acts as an important cofactor in the expression of the blood-coagulating activity of cancer cell-derived coagulating activity 1 (CCA-1), which is one of the known tumor procoagulants. Monoclonal antibody (MoAb) FS01, which serves as the Ley-recognizing epitope, inhibits the procoagulant activity of CCA-1 was found to dose-dependently inhibit the procoagulant activity of normal plasma induced by the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line, HAL8, which shows a high level of Ley expression. It did not, however, inhibit the procoagulant activity of the human colon cancer cell line, RPMI4788, which does not express Ley. Administration of FS01 MoAb inhibited lung metastasis of HAL8 cells, but not that of RPMI4788. The absence of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-mediated cytotoxicity of FS01 MoAb against the HAL8 cell line suggests that the inhibition of HAL8 metastasis by FS01 MoAb derives from the inhibition of blood-coagulating activity of the latter. These findings indicate that Ley glycolipid plays an important role in the mechanism of cancer metastasis via the procoagulant activity of CCA-1.

Suppression of pulmonary metastasis using adenovirally motility related protein-1 (MRP-1/CD9) gene delivery.

Previously we showed that MRP-1/CD9 might prevent tumor metastasis by suppression of cell motility and invasion of tissue barriers. The present study explored the possibility of preventing metastasis of mouse melanoma BL6 by expression of MRP-1/CD9 through gene transfer. A replication-deficient adenovirus vector was used for the in vivo transfer of MRP-1/CD9 cDNA. Intratumor injection of an adenovirus vector (rAd-MRP-1/CD9) expressing MRP-1/CD9 resulted in a 73.7% reduction in the number of pulmonary metastases of mice and the median survival time of mice treated with rAd-MRP-1/CD9 was significantly longer than those treated with the rAd-beta-gal vector (103.2 approximately plus;8.5 days vs 71.2 approximately plus;5.2 days, P<0.001 respectively). These results support the expression of MRP-1/CD9 through gene transfer as a therapeutic strategy for preventing metastases and prolonging survival, and support the feasibility of gene transfer in a clinically relevant setting.

Effect of hyperthermia on the viability and the fibrinolytic potential of human cancer cell lines.

The effects of heat treatment on the viability and fibrinolytic potential of four cultured human carcinoma cell lines, fibrosarcoma cells (HT-1080), lung adenocarcinoma cells with highly metastatic potential (HAL-8), melanoma cells (Bowes) and osteosarcoma cells (NY), determined by measuring their levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and its specific receptor (u-PAR), were investigated by comparing them with those of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs incubated at 43 degrees C for 120 min exhibited no decrease in viability but exhibited an increase in both u-PA and u-PAR. HT-1080 and HAL-8 showed a moderately high heat-resistance (viability, 60-90%) that correlated with the reduction of u-PAR but not u-PA. On the other hand, Bowes and NY cells, with poor heat-resistance (viability, 20-50%), exhibited stronger cell-associated u-PA activity when they survived at 43 degrees C for 120 min. Since the u-PA/u-PAR system is directly involved in the invasiveness and metastatic potential of carcinoma cells, hyperthermia would alter the biological activity of these carcinoma cells.

The K-ras gene regulates vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression in non-small cell lung cancers.

Tumor angiogenesis is an essential step for tumor cell growth, progression and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is mitogen specific for endothelial cells, and therefore is believed to play a key role in tumor angiogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of VEGF expression remain virtually unknown and the only major regulator of VEGF expression has been reported to be hypoxia. Recently, it was reported that a mutant p53 in#duced the expression of VEGF mRNA, and that wild-type p53 down-regulated endogenous VEGF mRNA levels. In contrast, it has also been reported that mutant ras oncogenes were associated with the marked up-regulation of VEGF in transformed epithelial cells. Based on these results, we performed a retrospective study of the p53 and K-ras genes status and VEGF gene expression in the tumor tissues from 181 patients with non-small cell lung cancer using SSCP, sequencing, RT-PCR and immunohistochemical techniques. Forty-six carcinomas (25.4%) were evaluated as having high VEGF expression, and 135 tumors (74.6%) had low VEGF expression. Of the 181 primary NSCLC studied, 63 carcinomas (34.8%) contained mutations of p53, whereas only 14 carcinomas (7.7%) had mutations of K-ras. There were no significant relationships between VEGF expression and p53 status or each mutant exon of p53. In contrast, a significant difference was found between VEGF expression and K-ras status. Of the 14 tumors with mutant K-ras genes, 7 cases (50.0%) had high VEGF expression whereas only 39 of the 167 tumors with wild-type K-ras (23.4%) had high VEGF expression (p=0.0278). The mean VEGF conservation rate for the 14 tumors with mutant K-ras genes was 0.77+/-0.58 and the rate of the 167 tumors with wild-type K-ras genes was 0.49+/-0.46 (p=0. 0350). Moreover, the overall survival rate of patients with high VEGF expression was lower than patients with low VEGF expression (45.7% vs 60.7%, p=0.0419). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the overall survival rate between patients with a mutant p53 and those with a wild-type p53; there was also no difference in the overall survival between patients with a mutant K-ras and those with a wild-type K-ras. The Cox regression model analysis indicated that three variables, VEGF status, K-ras status and nodal status, were found to be significant indicators for prognosis (p=0.0236, p=0.0172 and p<0.0001, respectively). Our data suggest that a high expression of VEGF in lung cancer may be associated with a poor prognosis. This may be a clue to improving lung cancer diagnoses and therapies aimed at inhibiting tumor angiogenesis due to VEGF.

Significance of integrin alpha5 gene expression as a prognostic factor in node-negative non-small cell lung cancer.

The integrin family plays a major role in complex biological events such as differentiation, development, wound healing, and the altered adhesive and invasive properties of tumor cells. Integrin (alpha5beta1 is a classical fibronectin receptor, and it has been known as a tumor suppressor gene because tumor cells overexpressing alpha5beta1 are less tumorigenic than their parent cells. However, this finding conflicts with some recent data that suggests that the emergence of alpha5beta1 expression correlates with the tumor progression. We, therefore, investigated the expression of alpha5beta1 integrin in 20 lung cancer cell lines by flow cytometric analysis and in 88 node-negative non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical assays to determine the significance of this prognostic factor. In the 20 lung cancer cell lines, 8 (40.0%) cell lines strongly expressed integrin alpha5, 3 (15.0%) cell lines had moderate or weak alpha5 expression, and the remaining 9 (45.0%) cell lines expressed no integrin alpha5. In the 88 node-negative NSCLC patients, 44 samples (50.0%) were evaluated as having integrin alpha5 overexpression, and the integrin alpha5 expression was significantly associated with the status of differentiation and the age of the patients (P = 0.0379 and 0.0312, respectively). In the node-negative patients, the overall survival rate for patients with integrin alpha5 overexpressed tumors was significantly worse than for those individuals whose tumors had normal integrin alpha5 expression (P = 0.016).

Overexpression of bax associated with mutations in the loop-sheet-helix motif of p53.

Recent investigations have revealed that mutations of the loop-sheet-helix motif of p53 is a significant factor for a poor prognosis in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To clarify this mechanism, bcl-2 and bax expression were evaluated in relation to mutations of p53. Tumor tissues of 203 patients with NSCLC were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate bcl-2 and bax expression, and polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism following direct sequencing was performed to investigate p53 status. A total of 79 carcinomas were bcl-2 positive, 146 carcinomas were bax positive, and 72 carcinomas had missense mutations of p53. There was no difference in bcl-2 expression in relation to p53 status. On the other hand, tumors with structural mutations of p53 had significantly lower expression of bax than those with wild-type p53 (P = 0.0026). In contrast, tumors with mutations of the loop-sheet-helix motif of p53 had significantly higher expression of bax than those with wild-type p53 (P = 0.0236). The frequency of a bcl-2/bax ratio of >/=1 was significantly lower in tumors with mutations of the loop-sheet-helix motif than that in tumors with wild-type p53 (P = 0.0240). The bcl-2/bax ratio status was a significant factor for a prognosis in patients with NSCLC (P = 0.0083). Mutations of the loop-sheet-helix motif of p53 were correlated with overexpression of bax, while other mutations of p53 were correlated with low levels of bax expression. This variation in pattern of bax expression in relation to mutant p53 might reflect the biological behavior of tumors in patients with bcl-2-positive NSCLC.

Involvement of galectin-3 expression in colorectal cancer progression and metastasis.

Galectin-3 is a beta-galactoside-specific lectin that binds to laminin sugar-sites and is involved in tumor malignancy. Galectin-3 expression in relation to primary tumor and liver metastasis of colorectal cancer was examined to determined its involvement in cancer progression and metastasis. Immunohistochemical staining of galectin-3 was performed on 117 primary lesions and 15 liver metastases of colorectal cancer using TIB166 monoclonal antibody. The expression of galectin-3 was evaluated by grading the intensity of the staining as either negative, weakly positive, or strongly positive. Normal mucosa of all patients were strongly positive for galectin-3, but the staining in these tissues was still significantly less than in the primary lesions of the cancer (31.6%). Galectin-3 expression in the primary lesions was significantly increased, correlating with the progression of clinical stage (p=0. 0224), liver metastasis (p<0.0001), venous invasion (p=0.0048), and lymph node metastasis (p=0.0289). Liver metastatic lesions also showed up-regulated levels of galectin-3 compared to the primary lesions (p=0.0030). The group showing strongly positive galectin-3 had a significantly poorer prognosis than the negative/weakly positive group in terms of disease-free survival (p=0.0224). The strong expression of galectin-3 in colorectal cancer correlates with cancer progression, liver metastasis, and poor prognosis for patients.

High expression of glycosphingolipids involved in procoagulant activity of cancer cells.

To investigate the involvement of tumor-associated antigens such as sLe(a) and sLe(x), as well as Le(y) glycosphingolipid in the procoagulant activity of cancer cells, we examined the relationship between the inhibitory effect of anti-sLe(a) or anti-sLe(x) antibodies on the procoagulant activity of cancer cells, and cell surface expression of sLe(a) and sLe(x) antigens. We observed that the procoagulant activity of cancer cells which highly expressed sLe(a) or sLe(x) antigens (expression rate >70%) was significantly inhibited by the relevant antibodies. These data suggested that not only Le(y) but also sLe(a) and sLe(x) antigens play an important role in coagulation induced by various cancer cells.

Anterior resection following posterior transsacral stapling and transection of the anal canal for low-lying rectal cancer in males.

In anterior resection with anastomosis using the double-staple technique for low-lying rectal cancer in male patients, the approach to the anal canal with a stapling instrument via the abdominal area is limited by the narrow pelvis. The stapling and transection of the anal canal via the posterior transsacral approach prior to performing an anterior resection thus enables the lower rectum and anal canal to be visualized, so that the anal canal can be accurately stapled and transected even in male patients with a narrow pelvis.

Correlation of prognosis of breast cancer patients and expression of Ley which acts as a cofactor of tumor procoagulant.

Association between Ley expression and prognosis of breast cancer was investigated using monoclonal antibody (MoAb) FS01, which recognizes Ley as an epitope, inhibits the procoagulant activity of cancer cell-derived coagulating activity 1 (CCA-1). Expression intensity and procoagulant activity of CCA-1, tissue factor and HLA-DR on breast cancer cell lines were also examined. Immunohistochemical staining of Ley was performed on primary lesions of 223 breast cancer patients who received absolute curative operation. Flow cytometric analysis and clot timer was used to detect expression and activity of each procoagulant on cancer cell lines. The Ley expression was 73.5%, and no significant relation was observed between clinicopathological factors and intensity of Ley expression. The group showing strong Ley positivity had a significantly poorer prognosis than the Ley-negative group in 5-year disease-free survival (p=0.019). Multivariate analysis using the Cox's proportional hazards' regression model showed that Ley expression is an independent prognostic factor (p=0.018), following tumor size and lymph node metastasis. Ley expression on cancer cell surface is higher than tissue factor and HLA-DR. FS01 and anti-tissue factor MoAb inhibited the coagulating activity of tissue factor-expressing lines, but no cells were inhibited by staphylococcal enterotoxin A, which is known to inhibit the coagulating activity of HLA-DR. CCA-1 and tissue factor plays a important role in the blood coagulating activity of breast cancer cell lines. Breast cancer patients are thought to have a poor prognosis because Ley expression on the surface of the cancer cell induces blood coagulation via CCA-1.

Generation of a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the procoagulant activity of various cancer cell lines.

BACKGROUND: Tumor procoagulant is one of the factors responsible for disseminated intravascular coagulation and metastasis. The authors found procoagulant activity in LK52 human squamous cell carcinoma cells, which they designated cancer cell-derived blood coagulating activity 1 (CCA-1). A monoclonal antibody (MoAb) was generated to characterize this CCA-1 procoagulant activity. To date, antibodies that show an inhibitory effect on procoagulant activity as well as high reactivity in cancer cells are well known for their tissue factor specificity. METHODS: Characterization of the procoagulant activity of CCA-1 was performed and an anti-CCA-1 MoAb, FS01, was generated. CCA-1 expression on the cancer cell surface was examined by flow cytometry. Procoagulant activity of various cancer cell lines and the inhibitory effect of the FS01 MoAb on this procoagulant activity was monitored by a clot timer. RESULTS: The enzymologic character differed from that of cancer procoagulant (CP). The FS01 MoAb inhibited the procoagulant activity of CCA-1, but did not inhibit that of tissue factor. A positive correlation was observed between the expression intensity of CCA-1 and the inhibitory effect of the FS01 MoAb on the procoagulant activity of cancer cell lines. Expression of CCA-1 was observed more frequently than that of tissue factor in human cancer cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: The FS01 MoAb generated in the current study is a new antibody that reacts with various cancer cell lines, but not with normal cells. FS01 inhibits cancer cell-derived procoagulant activity and does not react with tissue factor and CP. CCA-1, which is recognized by the FS01 MoAb, appears to play a major role in cancer cell-derived procoagulant activity.

Le(y) glycolipid acts as a co-factor for tumor procoagulant activity.

We have generated a monoclonal antibody (MAb), FS01, which inhibits the procoagulant activity (CCA-1) produced by a human squamous cell carcinoma cell line, LK52. Expression of the antigen recognized by FS01 MAb in various cancer cell lines correlated well with the procoagulant activities of the expressing cell lines. Our objective was to characterize the molecule reacting with FS01 MAb and to analyze its involvement in the CCA-1 procoagulant activity. The molecule was identified as a glycolipid and found to be involved in the procoagulant activity because both procoagulant activity and reactivity to FS01 MAb were lost after endoglycoceramidase treatment of CCA-1. Furthermore, FS01 MAb recognized the Lewis Y (Le[y]) antigen. To confirm the involvement of a glycolipid incorporating the Le(y) antigen in the procoagulant activity, we attempted to purify CCA-1 from LK52 culture supernatant. In one of the purification steps, a fraction containing low procoagulant activity (CCA-1p) separated from the Le(y)-positive fraction (CCA-1c). Although CCA-1c alone did not show procoagulant activity, the procoagulant activity of CCA-1p was augmented by CCA-1c and this augmentation was inhibited by FS01 MAb. Furthermore, CCA-1c enhanced the procoagulant activity of 33 cell lines tested as well as CCA-1p. In addition, purified Le(y) glycolipid from canine intestine augmented the procoagulant activity of CCA-1p, and this augmentation also could be inhibited by FS01 MAb. We conclude that Le(y) glycolipid is a co-factor for the procoagulant activity derived from cancer cells.

MRP-1/CD9 and KAI1/CD82 expression in normal and various cancer tissues.

As part of our evaluation of MRP-1/CD9 and KAI1/CD82 as prognostic predictors among patients with cancer, we have extended our studies to solid tumors of a variety of anatomical sites. Normal tissues were included for comparison. Immunohistochemical techniques were used throughout. Our results indicate that MRP-1/CD9 was strongly expressed by many normal tissues, including the epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract, alveolar epithelium of the lung, urothelium and smooth muscle. Expression was weak in the pituitary gland, spleen and hepatocytes, and absent in testes and spinal cord. KAI1/CD82 was also expressed by many normal tissues, but was absent in some MRP-1/CD9-positive tissues (e.g., smooth muscle, adrenal cortex, urothelium, myelin of peripheral nerves, epithelium of amnion). On the other hand, KAI1/CD82 was strongly expressed in spinal cord gray matter, which was MRP-1/CD9-negative. Expression of these glycoproteins was detected in almost all types of tumors examined. In certain cancers, MRP-1/CD9 and KAI1/CD82 positivity was inversely related to lymph node involvement. Whereas lymph node metastases were present in 22.2% of lung cancer patients whose tumors were MRP-1/CD9 and KAI1/CD82-positive, 65.5% of patients with MRP-1/CD9 and KAI1/CD82-reduced/negative tumors had lymph node metastases. A similar inverse relationship was seen in colon cancer and breast cancer patients with respect to MRP-1/CD9 expression. The present data, together with our previous results suggest that evaluating the MRP1/CD9 and KAI1/CD82 status of cancers of the lung, breast and colon may provide useful information on the metastatic potential of the tumors.

Enhanced urokinase-type plasminogen activator activity by extracellular matrix protein obtained from highly metastatic human lung adenocarcinoma cell line.

A protein which enhanced urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) activity was purified from the extracts of extracellular matrix of highly metastatic cell line HAL-8 derived from human lung adenocarcinoma. The protein showed a single band with molecular weight of 65 kDa after the purification by Sephadex G-150 and diethylaminoethyl-cellulose followed by reversed phase separation in a high performance liquid chromatography system. The purified protein in the immobilized conditions enhanced u-PA activity in both plasminogen activation and S-2444 amidolysis by 4.6- and 2.8-fold increases in the second order rate constants (Kcat/K(m)), respectively. This protein was related to neither plasminogen nor single-chain u-PA by the immunological studies and with respect to retention time on reversed phase analysis. These results suggest that the purified material acts as an enhancer of u-PA in extracellular matrix of the cancer cells, inducing an effective tissue destruction and cell invasion and possessing a highly metastatic potential.

Second-look operation for recurrent colorectal cancer based on carcinoembryonic antigen and imaging techniques.

PURPOSE: The usefulness of postoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) monitoring and improvements in imaging techniques have renewed enthusiasm for second-look operations (SLO) as the most effective treatment for recurrent colorectal cancer by reresection following early detection. The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of CEA and imaging techniques-directed SLO. METHODS: Seven hundred fifty-six patients with Dukes Stages B and C, who had undergone curative resection, were monitored postoperatively using CEA and imaging techniques. An SLO was performed on any potentially resectable recurrence, and in addition, an SLO was done when a persistently rising CEA value was detected. RESULTS: Recurrence developed in 18.8 percent (142/756) of patients, and 90.8 percent (129/142) of the recurrences were detected within the first three years following curative resection. When comparing carcinomas of the colon with that of the rectum, the former were associated with significantly more hepatic and intraabdominal recurrences, whereas the latter had significantly more locoregional and pulmonary recurrences. Seventy-two patients underwent SLO. Of these patients, 54.2 percent (39/72) had all of their disease resected, and 1.4 percent (1/72) had no detectable disease at the SLO. Among the 142 patients with recurrence, 71 (50 percent) patients underwent SLO. The resectable group at SLO carried a significantly better survival than the unresectable recurrence group (41.3 vs. 5.2 percent; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Complete removal of colorectal cancer recurrences by SLO, on the basis of postoperative, follow-up CEA and imaging technique findings, results in improved survival.

Localization of oncofetal and normal fibronectin in colorectal cancer. Correlation with histologic grade, liver metastasis, and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Expression of oncofetal fibronectin (oncFN) and normal fibronectin (norFN) in colorectal cancer specimens was examined to investigate the correlation between fibronectin localization and histologic grade, liver metastasis, and prognosis. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining of oncFN and norFN was performed on 99 primary lesions and 12 liver metastases of colorectal cancer. The expression of norFN and oncFN was evaluated by grading the intensity of staining as negative, positive, or strongly positive. RESULTS: Positive staining for oncFN correlated positively with increasing stage. The rate of strongly positive staining for oncFN was 53% for primary lesions with liver metastasis, significantly higher than the oncFN-positive rate of 13% for metastasis free cases (P < 0.05). Liver lesions had an oncFN-positive rate of 92%. The postoperative 5-year survival rate for 51 cases classified as Dukes Stage C was 77.8% for oncFN-negative cases, 36.5% for oncFN-positive cases, and 22.2% for oncFN-strongly positive cases; these rates were significantly different (P < 0.01). Conversely, there was no correlation between norFN and any clinical variable. CONCLUSION: Expression of oncFN is correlated with a poor prognosis of Dukes C colorectal cancer and may serve as a useful postoperative prognostic sign.

Inhibition of experimental metastasis of human adenocarcinoma by cilostazol, a platelet phosphodiesterase inhibitor.

Cilostazol, an inhibitor of platelet phosphodiesterase, was used to inhibit the platelet aggregating potential and metastasis of human adenocarcinoma cell lines. In vitro platelet aggregation potential of HAL8 and HAL33 cell lines was inhibited by cilostazol in a concentration dependent manner. Fatal acute thromboembolism of nude mice induced injection of HAL8 and HAL33 cell was completely inhibited by cilostazol/10 mg/kg p.o. Retention of injected (125)IdUrd-labeled cells in the lungs was also inhibited by cilostazol pretreatment. Cilostazol given 2 h before cell injection inhibited by 87 and 100% respectively, experimental lung metastasis of HAL8 and HAL33. Cilostazol given 72 h after cell injection had no effect on HAL8 and HAL33 metastasis. These results show that platelet aggregation of HAL8 and HAL33 cells play an important role in metastatic systems and that cilostazol inhibits human cancer metastasis.

[MultiCycle software for cell cycle analyses].

MultiCycle software (M-cycle), a computer cell cycle analysis program that has a background debris and aggregation compensating function, was utilized in this study to prove the usefulness of the M-cycle. The S phase fraction (SPF) calculated by the M-cycle was compared to that of bromodeoxyuridine labelling index (BLI) using colorectal carcinoma cell lines. The SPF value was slightly lower using the M-cycle than that of the BLI in Colo 201 and Colo 320 and lower significantly in Widr. This may indicate that the M-cycle effectively compensated for the background existing in the DNA histogram. The SPF value was computed both by the M-cycle and the sum of broadened rectangles model (SOBR). The SPF value of these cell lines showed a lower figure in the M-cycle than in the SOBR. The SPF value of paraffin-embedded material through the M-cycle and the SOBR was compared according to DNA ploidy patterns. The SPF value computed by the M-cycle was significantly lower in both ploidy patterns than that of the SOBR. In conclusion, the M-cycle is a useful tool for cell cycle analyses of simple DNA flow cytometric histograms obtained by paraffin-embedded material.