DNA QUANTIFICATION AS A PROGNOSTIC FACTOR IN GASTRIC ADENOCARCINOMA

OBJECTIVE: To determine if DNA quantification, studied in cytologic sa mples obtained by fiberendoscopy, has predictive value in gastric aden ocarcinoma. The survival times of patients in whom the tumor was the c ause of death were considered variables of interest. STUDY DESIGN: Twe nty-nine patients with gastric cancer, diagnosed by cytology, endoscop y and microbiopsy, were selected. The study was done over more than 10 years. Smears were stained with progressive hematoxylin and processed by computer for DNA evaluation by image cytometry. RESULTS: Four diff erent types of histograms that directly relate to tumoral malignancy w ere obtained. These histograms were characterized by the value of entr opy. We established Jour grades of aggressiveness. Then we obtained tw o large groups: high and low grade of malignancy. We studied the survi val times in both groups and constructed a Kaplan-Meier survival curve for the high grade of malignancy group. We confirmed the results stat istically and found that there was a significant relationship, with P< .05. CONCLUSION The use of DNA quantification by image cytometry is st rongly advised in daily surgery as a prognostic indicator of survival time in gastric adenocarcinoma patients.