PROGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF DNA FLOW CYTOMETRIC AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC PARAMETERS OF COLORECTAL-CANCER

Background. The clinical value of DNA flow cytometry of colorectal can cer is unclear. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluat e the relationship between tumor flow cytometry, histopathologic param eters, and survival. Methods. Flow cytometry was performed on paraffin embedded specimens from 653 patients who had surgery from 1980 to 198 3. Results. Aneuploidy was associated with distal tumor, perineural in vasion, desmoplastic reaction, and failure to secrete mucin, TNM Stage I tumors were more frequently diploid than were more advanced tumors (71% vs. 41%). An abnormal DNA content had a marginal impact on surviv al as evaluated by univariate analysis (69% vs. 61% 10-year survival r ate, P = 0.06). Multivariate analysis revealed that significant predic tors of outcome were lymph node metastasis (95% confidence interval of relative risks of death from recurrent disease, 1.50-2.92), rectal ca ncer (1.22-2.19), absence of lymphocytic infiltration (1.20-2.17), inv asion through bowel wall (1.17-3.13), lymphatic vessel invasion outsid e bowel wall (1.05-2.69), perineural invasion (1.15-3.19), and male ge nder (1.00-1.79). Conclusions. These findings suggest that ploidy is a ssociated with some histopathologic parameters, but flow cytometry doe s not correlate with long term survival of patients with colorectal ca rcinoma.