FLOW CYTOMETRIC DNA-HETEROGENEITY IN PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED ENDOMETRIAL CANCER

To evaluate the degree of intratumoral DNA ploidy heterogeneity in end ometrial carcinoma, the authors examined curettage specimens from 30 p atients with clinical stage I and II endometrial carcinoma. The curett age material was obtained before the onset of treatment. A representat ive sample from each tumour was chosen and a 50 mu m section was cut. The paraffin block of tumor was then divided into 4 equal parts and a 50 mu m section was cut from each part. All tumour samples were analys ed separately by flow cytometry. DNA ploidy heterogeneity was noted in 5/29 cases (17%). In three cases DNA-aneuploid stem cell lines were f ound only among the 4-part sections and were not detected when the who le tumor section was analysed.