High-resolution DNA flow cytometry in oral verrucous carcinoma

The classification of verrucous carcinoma as an entity unto itself or as a variant of well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma is controversial. To contribute new insights into the biological behavior of this rare tumor, w e applied DNA flow cytometry to three node-negative verrucous carcinomas of the oral cavity. All tumors expressed a single aneuploid cell population. One of the patients experienced three courses with local recurrence. All se condary tumors retained the initially established aneuploid clone. The deve lopment of aneuploidy is thus a cytogenetic event common to both verrucous and squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity.