Implications of flow cytometry in malignant conditions of the stomach.
Aneuploidy, abnormal nuclear DNA content, has been demonstrated in most malignant processes, including gastric malignancies. Utilizing flow cytometry on endoscopic biopsies, we have attempted to characterize the prevalence of aneuploidy and to investigate the prognostic implications of gastric biopsy DNA content with regard to survival. DNA aneuploidy was detected in 71% of specimens revealing malignancy by histologic evaluation. When aneuploidy was demonstrated, 63% of the specimens proved to be positive for malignancy (positive predictive value). However, the absence of aneuploidy had a negative predictive value for malignancy of 93%. Patients with diploid adenocarcinomas had a median survival of 32 months, compared to a median survival of 4 months in the group with DNA aneuploidy.


CONCLUSIONS
1) The prevalence of aneuploidy in endoscopically obtained specimens compares favorably with other previously reported series. 2) The presence of aneuploidy in gastric malignancies appears to correlate with decreased survival and may be helpful in making therapeutic decisions.
Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Cornell University Medical College, Manhasset, New York.
R
R
Bronzo
P
P
Heit
G
G
Weissman
E
E
Kahn
M
M
McKinley
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000782:Aneuploidy; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm