Flow cytometric DNA ploidy, p53, PCNA, and c-erbB-2 protein expressions aspredictors of survival in surgically resected gastric cancer patients

In order to determine retrospectively the impact of some cytometric and imm unohistochemical parameters on the overall survival of gastric cancer patie nts treated:with surgery alone, paraffin-embedded tumor samples from 137 ga stric carcinoma patients undergoing curative resection from 1987-1993 were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM) acid immunohistochemistry (p53, c-erbB-2, and PCNA expression). FCM-derived parameters were DNA ploidy and fraction o f S-phase cells (SPF), Multiple regression analysis was applied to determin e the prognostic significance of the conventional clinicopathologic finding s together with the flow cytometric and immunohistochemical parameters on o verall survival. When all parameters were entered simultaneously into the C ox regression model, stage and DMA ploidy (DIVA index >1.35) clearly emerge d as the only independent prognostic factors. When the stages were analysed separately, the independent prognostic factors resulted DNA ploidy in earl y stages (I-ll)and grading in stage IIIA tumors. For stage IIIB tumors, no independent prognostic factor was found. These results indicate that the DN A ploidy pattern is a valuable predictor of survival in curatively resected gastric cancer patients, especially when less advanced tumors are taken in to consideration. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.