title: DNA aneuploidy in anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid gland.
abstract: Nuclear DNA content of 19 cases of large cell or spindle cell anaplastic carcinomas of the thyroid was studied by flow cytometry. In 17 cases archival paraffin-embedded tissue and in 2 cases fresh material obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy was used for DNA content determination. Unequivocal evidence of DNA aneuploidy was obtained in 13 cases (68%). Two tumors contained more than one aneuploid stemline of cells. Eighteen (95%) of the patients died within 20 months after diagnosis, but 1 patient has survived for 13 years. The observed survival rate of the patients with carcinoma with a DNA index (DI) less than 1.30 was superior as compared with tumors with a DI greater than 1.30 (P = 0.007). All 7 patients with tumors with DIs greater than 1.30 died within seven months, whereas 5 of the 11 patients with tumors with DIs less than 1.30 survived longer than one year after the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Central Hospital of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Klemi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joensuu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eerola
mesh_terms: D000782:Aneuploidy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm