STUDY ON FLOW CYTOMETRIC DNA-HISTOGRAM OF PROSTATIC CARCINOMAS

Abstract

The clinical availability of flow cytometric DNA analysis of prostatic carcinomas was investigated and the results thus obtained were compared with those based on conventional histological examination. The specimens were provided by transrectal and/or transperineal needle biopsy from patients with clinically diagnosed prostatic carcinoma (26 patients) and those with benign prostatic disease (18 patients). The specimens were routinely prepared for the aforementioned examinations. The results showed diploid patterns in all patients with benign disease, aneuploid and diploid patterns in 10 (38.5%) and 16 (61.5%) of the 26 patients with histologically proved prostatic carcinoma, respectively. Higher Proliferation Indices (16.51±10.32%) and Heterogeneity Index Scores (31.35±19.21) as well as the higher incidence of aneuploid patterns were observed closely associated with prostatic carcinoma of histologically high grade. Also shown were changes in DNA-histogram patterns after instituting the treatment of prostatic carcinoma. Therefore, flow cytometric analysis of DNA-histograms is useful as an objective parameter of the tumor grade, an adjunct to diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma and monitoring patients with the disease after instituting the treatment.