Relationship between Flow Cytometric Nuclear DNA Quantification and Clinicopathologic Parameters in Endometrial Cancer

Cho, Hye Jin; Kim, Young Tae; Kim, Sang Wun; Yoon, Bo Sung; Nahm, En Ji; Kim, Sung Hoon; Kim, Jae Hoon; Kim, Jae Wook

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of the DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction to other clinicopathologic factors including age, stage, architecture grade, nuclear grade, lymph node involvement, myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial cancer.
METHODS
A prospective analysis was performed on 66 endometrial cancer cases treated at our hospital from Jan. 2000 to Nov. 2004. Of these 66 cases, 41 cases were analyzed by flow cytometry. Fresh tissues for analysis were obtained by dilatation and curettage or surgery as hysterectomy. All specimens for histopathologic grading and stage were classified according to WHO criteria and FIGO stage. DNA ploidy groups were divided into two groups, diploidy and aneuploidy. Fraction more than 6% was classified as high percentage S-phase fraction (SPF). DNA ploidy and SPF were analyzed by flow cytometry in fresh surgical specimens from endometrial cancer.
RESULTS
Of the 41 cases, 5cases were aneuploidy, and 16 cases were high percentage SPF. With regard to DNA ploidy and clinicopathologic prognostic factors, aneuploidy was significantly increased as stage, histological type, nuclear grade, architecture grade, and myometrial invasion increased. With regard to DNA ploidy and clinical prognostic factors, aneuploidy was not increased as age, lymph node involvement increased. With regard to SPF and clinicopathologic prognostic factors, high percentage SPF (>6%) was significantly increased as stage, histological type, and nuclear grade increased. With regard to SPF and clinicopathologic prognostic factors, high percentage SPF (>6%) was not increased as age, lymph node involvement, architecture grade, and myometrial invasion increased.
CONCLUSION
The DNA ploidy by flow cytometry has shown to have a close relationship to stage, histological type, myometrial invasion, and nuclear and architecture grade. Also, the SPF has shown to have a close relationship to stage, histological type, and nuclear grade. Our results were consistent with the concept that aneuploidy or high percentage SPF could predict the poor prognosis of disease course. The flow cytometric DNA quantification in endometrial cancer may provide major information about tumor prognosis.