title: Aneuploid subpopulations in tumour-invaded lymph nodes from breast cancer patients.
abstract: Fresh, paired primary tumours and lymph node metastases from breast cancer patients were compared by DNA flow cytometry. Although 65% of primary tumours were aneuploid, the detection of aneuploid peaks in corresponding nodal metastases was rare (only 6 cases out of 25) in single-parameter DNA analysis. Detection of aneuploid subpopulations in lymph nodes was greatly improved in dual-parameter DNA analysis using an anticytokeratin (CK) antibody which allowed ploidy determination on CK+ epithelial cells alone. Examination of 12 lymph nodes for CK+ cells revealed the presence of both diploid and aneuploid tumour cells in tumour invaded nodes. In patients with multiploid primary tumours, a subpopulation of the primary aneuploid cells was dominant in the nodal metastases. This suggests that aneuploidy is an integral property of metastatic cells and that within a primary tumour a subpopulation may have a higher metastatic potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Glasgow, U.K.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whitford
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cushley
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000782:Aneuploidy; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000276:immunology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000235:genetics*; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D007633:Keratins