PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF FLOW-CYTOMETRY AND CORRELATION TO SOME CONVENTIONAL PROGNOSTIC FACTORS - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ARCHIVAL SPECIMENS OF134 ASTROCYTOMAS

The S-phase fraction and the DNA ploidy type in 134 astrocytomas (18 G rade II, 46 Grade III, and 70 Grade IV astrocytomas) were studied usin g, flow cytometry in a retrospective study of archival tumor specimens . A high grade of malignancy was associated with both a high S-phase f raction (p < 0.0001) and an aneuploid DNA pattern (p < 0.0001). There was no aneuploid DNA pattern found in the fibrillary astrocytomas (Wor ld Health Organization (WHO) Grade II); whereas the aneuploid pattern was observed in 80% of all the glioblastomas multiforme (WHO Grade IV) . The age and gender of the patients were not significantly related to the flow cytometry parameters. The survival of patients with Grade II or III astrocytomas was significantly longer when their tumors exhibi ted a tetraploid DNA pattern or had a low S-phase fraction. In patient s with Grade IV tumors, there was no correlation between length of sur vival and either the DNA ploidy or the S-phase fraction. In a multivar iate Cox regression analysis of data obtained in patients with Grade I I and III astrocytomas, age, grade of malignancy, DNA ploidy, and S-ph ase fraction were independent prognostic factors.