title: Regional DNA content heterogeneity in colonic adenocarcinoma: prognostic significance in patients with liver metastases.
abstract: We retrospectively examined by flow cytometry the DNA ploidy pattern in tissue blocks from 25 primary colon adenocarcinomas and their lymph node and liver metastases. Intratumoral heterogeneity was present in 22% of primary tumors and 21% of metastatic liver deposits. Intertumoral heterogeneity, measured between the primary tumor and its lymph node and liver metastases, was 0% and 20%, respectively. Of 24 patients who underwent successful resection of their liver metastases, 8 neoplasms had uniformly diploid DNA content, while 16 tumors had aneuploid DNA pattern in either the primary tumor, the metastases, or both. Five-year survival was better in the diploid group (38% vs. 7%, P = 0.10 by log rank analysis). Three of eight patients in the diploid group remain free of disease, while all 16 patients with aneuploid cell populations have died of recurrent disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Teague
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mclemore
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: el-Naggar
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000235:genetics; D011003:Ploidies; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm