FLOW CYTOMETRIC DNA-PLOIDY ANALYSIS IN CANINE TRANSITIONAL-CELL CARCINOMA OF URINARY BLADDERS

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy was performed on 51 formalin-fi xed, paraffin-embedded samples of canine transitional cell carcinoma o f the urinary bladder. The DNA ploidy data obtained were compared to s everal clinicopathologic features. In addition, the DNA ploidy of 15 h yperplastic/inflamed and 8 normal canine urinary bladders was measured . Forty-three of the 51 neoplastic samples had interpretable DNA histo grams. DNA aneuploidy was found in 34/43 (79%) of the transitional cel l carcinoma samples. Of the 34 aneuploid neoplasms, 16 (47%) were hype rdiploid, 17 (50%) were tetraploid, and 1 (3%) was hypertetraploid. No significant correlation was found between the presence of DNA aneuplo idy and the growth pattern, histologic grade, clinical stage, or indiv idual morphologic features of this neoplasm. Additionally, the DNA plo idy was not related to the sex, age, or survival time of dogs with tra nsitional cell carcinoma. All of the normal and all but one of the hyp erplastic/inflamed urinary bladders were diploid. The results from thi s study demonstrated that DNA ploidy can be measured from paraffin-emb edded canine samples by flow cytometry, a majority of the canine trans itional cell carcinomas were aneuploid, and a significant correlation did not exist between the DNA ploidy and specific clinicopathologic fe atures of this neoplasm.