[Significance of ploidy in prostatic cancer, quantified by a prospectively applicable procedure].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the ploidy of prostatic adenocarcinoma cells obtained by fine-needle punction-aspiration biopsy using computer-assisted image analysis and its prognostic value.


METHODS
The clinical applications of the two most commonly utilized methods, flow cytometry and cytophotometry, is difficult. The ploidy of prostatic adenocarcinoma cells obtained by fine-needle punction-aspiration biopsy in 54 patients was determined by image analysis. Previous cytological preparations from our files were utilized in the present study. Before processing the preparations, the Papanicolau stain used originally was removed. To make the technique simpler, we did not use the Feulgen stain but the progressive hematoxylin stain, which is faster and easier to use. The representative ploidy histograms were classified into four types first and then into two grades of DNA malignancy. The survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method and according to the ploidy.


RESULTS
Patients with high grade DNA malignancy had a worse survival rate than those with low grade malignancy. Statistical analysis using the log-rank test showed a significant difference, with p < 0.001.


CONCLUSIONS
Tumor ploidy in prostate cancer can be determined prospectively using cytological smears with progressive hematoxylin staining and has a prognostic value.
Valle Gerhold
J
J
Servicio de Urología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Zaragoza, España.
Azua Blanco
J
J
Villarroya Rodríguez
S
S
Romero Casabona
P
P
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011003:Ploidies; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
Valor de la ploidía en el cáncer de próstata, cuantificada mediante un procedimiento de aplicabilidad prospectiva.