PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF DNA-PLOIDY IN PANCREATIC-CARCINOMA

The nuclear DNA content was assessed by image cytometry on cytologic s pecimens obtained with fine-needle aspiration biopsy in 96 patients wi th pancreatic duct carcinoma. Twenty-two of these patients had pancrea ticoduodenal resection. According to DNA analysis there were 27 (28%) diploid, 17 (18%) tetraploid, and 52 (54%) aneuploid tumors. The corre sponding patient median survival times were 8, 5, and 4 months, respec tively. Resectable tumors were more often DNA diploid (10 of 22) than nonresectable tumors (17 of 74) (p < 0.05). A Cox multivariate regress ion analysis demonstrated that surgical resection (p < 0.001) and dipl oid DNA pattern (p < 0.05) were factors associated with longer patient survival time. Although the difference in survival time was small, th e data indicate that DNA diploid tumors represent a less aggressive su bset of pancreatic carcinoma.