Evaluation of DNA Indices in Primary and Metastatic Tumors in Advanced Gastric Carcinoma

Abstract

Regional differences in DNA indices (DIs) in 57 advanced gastric carcinoma were analyzed and evaluated for heterogeneity from the aspect of DIs in the primary tumor and between primary and metastatic tumors by flow cytometry. Five or six samples were taken from different primary tumor sites. Intratumoral differences in DIs were observed in 36 of 57 cases (63%). In contrast with DIs of primary and liver metastatic tumors, the tumor cell population which had a high DI in the primary tumor had a tendency to be found in the metastatic lesion (70%). Therefore, heterogeneity of DIs, as revealed from the DNA ploidy pattern, must be considered for giving a prognosis and the decide on the treatment. Investigation of differences in DIs between primary and metastatic tumors may suggest the expectation of recurrence or the mechanism of metastasis.