HIGH CELL-PROLIFERATION ACTIVITY DETERMINED BY DNA FLOW-CYTOMETRY ANDPROGNOSIS IN EPIDERMOID LUNG-CARCINOMA

DNA aneuploidy and high cell proliferation activity determined by DNA bow cytometry are known to be associated with poor prognosis in many h uman malignancies. The aim of the present study was to determine the l ong-term prognostic value of DNA ploidy and cell proliferation activit y in lung cancer. The material consisted of samples from 290 paraffin- embedded lung cancers (171 epidermoid carcinomas, 62 small-cell carcin omas, 26 adenocarcinomas, and 31 others), of which DNA ploidy and cell proliferation activity as defined by S-phase fraction (SPF) was deter mined by DNA flow cytometry. DNA aneuploidy was found in 61% of the tu mours and the mean (+/-SD) SPF was 13.6 +/- 9.5%, DNA aneuploidy was a ssociated with a high T-stage (p < 0.05) in epidermoid carcinoma, but not in small-cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. DNA aneuploidy and high SPF were associated with poor survival in epidermoid carcinoma. Howev er, only SPF (relative risk (RR) = 1.80), N-(RR = 2.46) and M-stages ( RR = 2.17) were statistically significant predictors of survival accor ding to multivariate analysis. Regression-tree analysis showed that th e prognostic value of SPF was restricted to localized (MO-stage) epide rmoid carcinoma. Neither DNA aneuploidy nor SPF was associated with su rvival in small-cell lung carcinoma. In conclusion, SPF is an independ ent prognostic factor in epidermoid lung carcinoma.