PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF DNA ANALYSIS IN COLORECTAL-CARCINOMA

Background. Reported experiences regarding the prognostic significance of DNA content in colorectal carcinoma have been a matter of controve rsy. Methods. DNA analysis with image cytometry was performed in 137 p atients with colorectal cancer. Only patients who had resection withou t tumor residual and who did not die postoperatively as a consequence of the operation were entered in the study. At the time of DNA analysi s, neither the histomorphologic data nor the relapse-free survival tim e of the patients were known. Results. In this investigation the DNA c ontent of tumor cells had no univariate or multivariate influence on t he relapse-free survival time. The prognosis was dependent on the tumo r localization, depth of tumor infiltration, lymph node metastasis, an d grade. Conclusions. DNA content provides no additional prognostic in formation in colorectal carcinoma.