DNA ploidy correlates with grade, proliferation and clinical outcome but not with presence of human oncogenic HPVs or expression of Bcl-2 in preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the uterine cervix

The aim of this study was to analyse whether DNA ploidy correlates with pro liferative activity as measured by PCNA expression, presence of oncogenic h uman papillomaviruses (HPVs), histological grade, expression of antiapoptot ic protein Bcl-2 and clinical outcome in a cohort of 57 preneoplastic and n eoplastic lesions of the uterine cervix. The samples were analysed using co mputer image cytomorphometry of Feulgen stained sections, standard indirect immunohistochemistry and hybridisation of HPV DNA in situ. The ploidy data were found to be significantly different between low/high grade preneoplas ia and invasive carcinoma. Significant positive relationships were also fou nd between DNA content and proliferation of lesions, and DNA content and cl inical behavior of the lesions. Nevertheles, no relationship between DNA pl oidy and HPV/Bcl-2 status was established.