Flow cytometric DNA ploidy and number of cell populations in the primary breast cancer and their correlation to the prognosis.

• In a prospective study on 516 breast cancer patients flow cytometry DNA ploidy and number of cell populations (defined as number of DNA stem lines) detected in the primary tumor were evaluated for prognostic purposes. the median follow-up time was about 5 years. in the 241 node negative cases, those patients with three or more cell populations had the worst prognosis, with a distant recurrence-free survival rate of about 60% at five years compared to 90% in cases with only one cell population detected in the primary tumor. the number of tumor involved axillary lymph nodes was the outstanding prognostic indicator which was confirmed in 275 node positive patients; DNA ploidy and number of cell populations did not give any significant prognostic information in this group of patients.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

cell populations

DNA ploidy

flow cytometry

stage

prognosis

Breast cancer

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)