MUCIN-PRODUCING PANCREATIC TUMORS - A STUDY OF NUCLEAR-DNA CONTENT BYFLOW-CYTOMETRY

Nuclear DNA content in eight surgically resected mucin-producing pancr eatic tumors (MPPT) consisting of two mucinous intraductal adenocarcin omas (MIDAC), two mucinous intraductal adenomas (MIDA), one mucinous c ystadenocarcinoma (MCAC), and three mucinous cystadenomas (MCA) were m easured by flow cytometry using paraffin-embedded tissue samples. The technique of Shutte was used for the preparation of paraffin-embedded tissue into single dissociated nuclei, while the method of Vindelov wa s used for staining the isolated nuclei with propidium iodine. Clinico pathologically, the four patients with MIDAC or MIDA were all male and had cystic lesions with a dilated pancreatic duct at the head of the pancreas, while the four patients with MCAC or MCA were all females an d had cystic tumors at either the body or tail of the pancreas. All ei ght patients with MPPT had no metastasis to the regional lymph nodes a nd were all still alive without recurrence. In an analysis of nuclear DNA content, seven of eight patients had DNA diploid tumors while one patient with a MIDAC perforating the duodenum and choledochus had a DN A aneuploid tumor. Thus, these findings suggest that DNA diploid patte rns in MPPT might be associated with a favorable prognosis in MPPT alt hough some patients whose MPPT invaded the surrounding organs might ha ve DNA aneuploid tumors.