CORRELATION OF FLOW-CYTOMETRY TO CLINICAL FACTORS, HORMONE RECEPTORS,AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL GRADE IN STAGE-I AND STAGE-II INVASIVE BREAST-CARCINOMA

DNA index (ploidy) and S-phase fraction (SPF) were measured by flow cy tometry in 131 invasive stage I and II breast carcinomas. Ploidy showe d a strong correlation with SPF (p = 0.0001), with aneuploid tumors ha ving a high SPF. Both cytometric parameters correlated with tumor size and hormonal receptor status. Smaller tumors tended to be diploid and have low SPF. Nodal status did not demonstrate an association with cy tometric findings. There was a highly significant connection between t umor grade, especially nuclear grade, and SPF (p = 0.0001). The study demonstrates the relationship between conventional prognostic factors, DNA content, and proliferative activity of breast tumors.