Primary testicular seminoma: prognostic significance of nuclear DNA ploidy pattern.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of nuclear DNA content on outcome of patients with testicular seminoma.


METHODS
Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks taken from 111 patients with primary testicular seminoma were studied by flow cytometry for nuclear DNA content. The results of ploidy status were correlated with histopathologic features, tumor progression and patients' survival.


RESULTS
48% of the tumors were DNA diploid and 52% were DNA aneuploid. None of the patients with DNA diploid seminoma had an advanced stage seminoma at the time of diagnosis. Progression after therapy or cancer-related death occurred only in patients who had DNA aneuploid testicular tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Nuclear DNA ploidy pattern provides important prognostic information for patients with testicular seminoma.
Nativ
O
O
Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., USA.
Winkler
H Z
HZ
Reiman
H R
HR
Earle
J D
JD
Lieber
M M
MM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011003:Ploidies; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018239:Seminoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D014021:Tissue Preservation
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm