title: DNA ploidy, proliferative index and EGF-R status in 130 cases of resected gastric cancer--a multivariate analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to define the prognostic role of DNA ploidy, proliferative index and EGF-R status in resected gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten clinico-pathological parameters and three biological factors obtained from flow cytometry and immunohisto-chemistry were evaluated in a series of 130 gastric cancer patients who received surgical treatment, including 28 stage IV cases (21.6%), using paraffin-embedded and fresh specimens in 77.7% and 22.3% of the cases, respectively. These variables were first analyzed and tested for correlation within the whole series and then weighted against survival in 117 applicable cases through univariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aneuploidy was significantly related to higher proliferative activity, EGF-R expression and deeper stomach wall infiltration. Higher proliferative activity was significantly related to deeper stomach wall infiltration and larger tumor diameter. The latter showed a significant relationship to EGF-R expression. Univariate analysis showed the significant variables for survival to be DNA ploidy, pT, pN, M, stage, histological type according to Lauren and tumor diameter. Multivariate analysis calculated on these significant variables using the Cox multiple stepwise regression model detected three factors which independently influence survival: pathological stage (p < 0.00001), histological type according to Lauren (p < 0.002) and DNA ploidy (p < 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DNA ploidy was shown to be a significant prognostic parameter in resected gastric cancer after pathological stage and histological type according to Lauren. The prognostic roles of proliferative activity and EGF-R status require further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Oncologic Surgery, Regina Elena Cancer Institute.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carboni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catarci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carlini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carboni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zupi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchione
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: D'Agnano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giannarelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garofalo
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002455:Cell Division; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011003:Ploidies; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D066246:ErbB Receptors