DNA-PLOIDY AND S-PHASE FRACTION AS PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH UVEAL MELANOMAS

In 96 patients with uveal malignant melanomas the tumours were investi gated by DNA flow cytometry. Thirty-eight per cent of the melanomas we re aneuploid. By univariate analysis significant correlations with sur vival were found for histological type, tumour size, DNA ploidy, evide nce of 'blind eye' and S-phase fraction. By multivariate analysis, sig nificant prognostic variables were found to be histological type (P=0. 0008), tumour size (P<0.0001) and DNA ploidy (P=0.0038). Evidence of ' blind eye' was not significantly correlated with survival after adjust ments for the other variables mentioned above. The S-phase fraction co uld be estimated in all 60 diploid tumours and in 12 of 36 aneuploid m elanomas. By univariate analysis this variable was found to be a signi ficant prognostic factor, but did not remain so after adjustment for p loidy, histological type and tumour size. We further conclude that pat ients with small DNA diploid uveal melanomas of spindle cell type have a rather favourable prognosis.