Prognostic significance of DNA ploidy pattern in osteosarcomas in association with chemotherapy

In this study, we analysed the DNA ploidy of osteosarcomas at biopsy and at tempted to clarify the relationship between DNA ploidy pattern and prognosi s. Thirty patients with non-metastatic osteosarcoma of an extremity were st udied. All underwent intensive chemotherapy with doxorubicin, cisplatin and methotrexate, in addition to wide tumor resection. DNA ploidy was detected by DNA cytofluorometry, using isolated and smeared cells of biopsied tumor tissue. Twelve tumors showed a diploid ploidy pattern and 18 showed a non- diploid pattern such as aneuploidy (15 tumors) and euploid-polyploidy (3 tu mors). The event-free survival rate at 9 years was 63.5% in non-diploid ost eosarcoma patients and 13.3% in diploid osteosarcoma patients. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.0278). T hese results lead us to conclude that a non-diploid osteosarcoma may be mor e sensitive to chemotherapy than a diploid tumor. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.