Comparison of fresh and paraffin-embedded tissue as starting material for DNA flow cytometry and evaluation of intratumor heterogeneity. 1988

O P Kallioniemi
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Tampere University Central Hospital, Finland.

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) from paraffin-embedded tumors has become an important diagnostic and prognostic tool in clinical pathology and investigative oncology. The present study aimed at elucidating the reliability of the method. About 90% of the 1,400 paraffin-embedded tumors analyzed were evaluable for DNA index and about 70% for SPF, although considerable differences between various tumor types were detected. The within-assay coefficients of variation for determination of tumor DNA index and SPF were 2% and 6%, respectively. Intratumor variation in DNA index was observed in 24% of breast and in 21% of ovarian carcinomas and variation in SPF in 36% and 29% of the respective tumors. Intratumor variation in SPF was greatest in DNA-diploid tumors, which may indicate that SPF values in these tumors may be less reliable owing to variations in the proportions of tumor and nontumor cells. If the methodological variation and the intratumor variation were taken into account, there was a good correlation between DNA indices (r = 0.980) and between SPF values (r = 0.794) obtained from fresh and paraffin-embedded tumors. It is concluded that accurate determination of DNA index and SPF from paraffin-embedded tumors is possible in the majority of cases. Regardless of the type of starting material used for DNA flow cytometry it is advantageous to study several samples from each tumor to account for the intratumor heterogeneity.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007399 Interphase The interval between two successive CELL DIVISIONS during which the CHROMOSOMES are not individually distinguishable. It is composed of the G phases (G1 PHASE; G0 PHASE; G2 PHASE) and S PHASE (when DNA replication occurs). Interphases
D008175 Lung Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the LUNG. Cancer of Lung,Lung Cancer,Pulmonary Cancer,Pulmonary Neoplasms,Cancer of the Lung,Neoplasms, Lung,Neoplasms, Pulmonary,Cancer, Lung,Cancer, Pulmonary,Cancers, Lung,Cancers, Pulmonary,Lung Cancers,Lung Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Lung,Neoplasm, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Cancers,Pulmonary Neoplasm
D008297 Male Males
D010051 Ovarian Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the OVARY. These neoplasms can be benign or malignant. They are classified according to the tissue of origin, such as the surface EPITHELIUM, the stromal endocrine cells, and the totipotent GERM CELLS. Cancer of Ovary,Ovarian Cancer,Cancer of the Ovary,Neoplasms, Ovarian,Ovary Cancer,Ovary Neoplasms,Cancer, Ovarian,Cancer, Ovary,Cancers, Ovarian,Cancers, Ovary,Neoplasm, Ovarian,Neoplasm, Ovary,Neoplasms, Ovary,Ovarian Cancers,Ovarian Neoplasm,Ovary Cancers,Ovary Neoplasm
D010190 Pancreatic Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the PANCREAS. Depending on the types of ISLET CELLS present in the tumors, various hormones can be secreted: GLUCAGON from PANCREATIC ALPHA CELLS; INSULIN from PANCREATIC BETA CELLS; and SOMATOSTATIN from the SOMATOSTATIN-SECRETING CELLS. Most are malignant except the insulin-producing tumors (INSULINOMA). Cancer of Pancreas,Pancreatic Cancer,Cancer of the Pancreas,Neoplasms, Pancreatic,Pancreas Cancer,Pancreas Neoplasms,Pancreatic Acinar Carcinoma,Pancreatic Carcinoma,Acinar Carcinoma, Pancreatic,Acinar Carcinomas, Pancreatic,Cancer, Pancreas,Cancer, Pancreatic,Cancers, Pancreas,Cancers, Pancreatic,Carcinoma, Pancreatic,Carcinoma, Pancreatic Acinar,Carcinomas, Pancreatic,Carcinomas, Pancreatic Acinar,Neoplasm, Pancreas,Neoplasm, Pancreatic,Neoplasms, Pancreas,Pancreas Cancers,Pancreas Neoplasm,Pancreatic Acinar Carcinomas,Pancreatic Cancers,Pancreatic Carcinomas,Pancreatic Neoplasm
D011003 Ploidies The degree of replication of the chromosome set in the karyotype. Ploidy
D001943 Breast Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST. Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D003110 Colonic Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the COLON. Cancer of Colon,Colon Adenocarcinoma,Colon Cancer,Cancer of the Colon,Colon Neoplasms,Colonic Cancer,Neoplasms, Colonic,Adenocarcinoma, Colon,Adenocarcinomas, Colon,Cancer, Colon,Cancer, Colonic,Cancers, Colon,Cancers, Colonic,Colon Adenocarcinomas,Colon Cancers,Colon Neoplasm,Colonic Cancers,Colonic Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Colon,Neoplasm, Colonic,Neoplasms, Colon
D004247 DNA A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine). DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D004273 DNA, Neoplasm DNA present in neoplastic tissue. Neoplasm DNA

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