DNA content by flow cytometry in gastric carcinoma: Pathology, ploidy and prognosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prognostic relevance of histopathologic findings in ga stric carcinoma is well established. Studies on DNA-ploidy are still scanty and contradictory. METHODOLOGY: Histopathologic parameters, DNA ploidy and S-phase were evalua ted in 78 cancer patients curatively resected, using formalin-fixed paraffi n-embedded tissue. RESULTS: Thirty-nine tumors (50%) were aneuploid. No significant correlatio n was found between histologic data and ploidy, but tumors with nodal invol vement were more frequently aneuploid. In univariate analysis, tumor locati on (p=0.05), tumor size (p=0.01), differentiation grade (p=0.02), Lauren cl assification (p=0.01), deeper infiltration of gastric wall (p=0.001), nodal affectation (p=0.0000) and number of lymph nodes (p=0.01), TNM stage (p=0. 0000), type of gastrectomy performed (p=0.04), and DNA ploidy (p=0.04) sign ificantly influenced survival. S-phase values had no effect on prognosis. I n the multiple regression model, factors independently associated with surv ival were TNM stage (p=0.0009), nodal affectation (p=0.01) and, marginally, ploidy (p=0.08). CONCLUSIONS: In gastric carcinoma curatively resected, the more relevant pr ognostic factors were stage and nodal involvement. Fifty percent of the tum ors were aneuploid. Aneuploidy was significantly associated with poorer pro gnosis.