VALUE OF QUANTITATIVE DNA ANALYSIS IN ENDOCRINE TUMORS OF THE PANCREAS

Background: The diagnosis of malignancy can be difficult in endocrine tumors of the pancreas. Moreover prognostically relevant factors are n ot available. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively wh ether the DNA distribution pattern can differentiate between benign an d malignant pancreatic endocrine tumors and secondly whether the DNA c ontent of tumor cells gives prognostic information. Method: Image cyto metry of paraffin-embedded tumor material of 42 pancreatic endocrine t umors. Results: In 27 benign endocrine pancreatic tumors (25 insulinom as, 2 benign nonfunctioning endocrine tumors) we could differentiate b etween 6 diploid, 15 hypotriploid and 6 triploid DNA histograms. In 15 malignant endocrine tumors of the pancreas we could differentiate bet ween 1 diploid, 1 hypotriploid, 9 triploid and 4 hypertriploid tumors. All 4 patients with a hypertriploid tumor died as a consequence of th eir disease in contrast to only 1 patient with a diploid, hypotriploid or triploid tumor even in case of a nonradical resection. Conclusion: With the help of quantitative DNA measurement a differentiation betwe en malignant and benign endocrine pancreatic tumors is not possible ev en if the risk of malignancy increases with the DNA content. The DNA c ontent of malignant endocrine pancreatic tumors has an influence on th e long-term survival. Hypertriploid tumors have a statistically signif icantly worse prognosis than diploid, hypotriploid or triploid tumors.