DIGITAL IMAGE-ANALYSIS OF NUCLEAR MORPHOMETRY, DNA-PLOIDY AND AGNORS IN BREAST-CARCINOMA CELL IMPRINTS

A series (n = 322) of breast carcinomas was investigated from 1991 to 1993 using digital image analysis. Nuclear morphometry and DNA content , and AgNORs were evaluated on cell imprints from fresh tissue samples which were further stored frozen (-80-degrees-C). Data were correlate d to morphological prognostic factors and immunocytochemical expressio n of cell markers assessed on frozen sections and evaluated by densito metry after image analysis processing. Nuclear morphometric parameters , DNA nuclear content and AgNORs were independent from the tumor size, histological grades, and the tumor content of immunodetectable pHER-2 /neu, Cathepsin D, ER, PR, pS2, and p53. But, DNA index and hyperploid y degree correlated with the mitosis index (p < 0.01) and Ki67 immunos taining (p = 0.003, p < 0.0001) whereas the shape factor and nucleus l arge diameter correlated with the degree of cell anisocytosis (p < 0.0 1). Nuclear surface and large diameter were greater in ductal carcinom as (p = 0.028) and in comedocarcinomas (p < 0.001) than in lobular car cinomas. These results suggest that image analysis processing provides accurate data to refine histoprognostic grading and additional parame ters to evaluate tumor proliferative activity.