Ar. Chang et al., DNA CONTENT IN CERVICAL-CARCINOMA - A FLOW CYTOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF DNA HETEROGENEITY, International journal of gynecological pathology, 13(4), 1994, pp. 330-336
The degree of DNA heterogeneity varies between tumors arising in diffe
rent body sites. Any substantial degree of variability within a given
tumor can give rise to significant problems in the interpretation of D
NA flow cytometric (FCM) studies. This study was undertaken to evaluat
e the degree of DNA heterogeneity in cervical carcinomas. A total of 1
00 3-mm punch biopsies were evaluated from single large cases in 10 se
ctions of cervical carcinoma. Of the 10 tumors, 6 were squamous carcin
oma, 1 was an adenocarcinoma, 1 was a mixed small cell and squamous ca
rcinoma, 1 was an adenosquamous cancer, and I was a small cell carcino
ma with a small area of adenocarcinoma. Adequate histograms were avail
able for 95 (95%) of the samples. Of the 10 cases studied, 9 (90%) rev
ealed homogeneity in the DNA pattern. A solitary case demonstrated het
erogeneity in one histogram (nine samples DNA diploid and one sample D
NA aneuploid). This case was predominantly small cell undifferentiated
carcinoma with focal adenocarcinoma. The area of adenocarcinoma was p
robably the area that contributed to the heterogeneous FCM pattern. Fr
om this study we conclude that for most cervical carcinomas of a speci
fic histologic type there is DNA homogeneity. However, for carcinomas
with a mixed morphology, DNA heterogeneity is possible and this must b
e taken into account in any DNA ploidy studies that include mixed or c
ombined tumors.