PRIMARY TESTICULAR SEMINOMA - PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF NUCLEAR-DNA PLOIDY PATTERN

Objective: To evaluate the impact of nuclear DNA content on outcome of patients with testicular seminoma. Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-e mbedded blocks taken from 111 patients with primary testicular seminom a were studied by flow cytometry for nuclear DNA content. The results of ploidy status were correlated with histopathologic features, tumor progression and patients' survival, Results: 48% of the tumors were DN A diploid and 52% were DNA aneuploid. None of the patients with DNA di ploid seminoma had an advanced stage seminoma at the time of diagnosis . Progression after therapy or cancer-related death occurred only in p atients who had DNA aneuploid testicular tumors. Conclusions: Nuclear DNA ploidy pattern provides important prognostic information for patie nts with testicular seminoma.