Image and flow cytometric analyses of DNA content in human solid tumors. A comparative study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the sensitivity and potentials of flow and image cytometry in assessing DNA content.


METHODS
The study was performed on 152 tumors (oral cavity, uterine cervix, bladder, colorectum, breast). Flow cytometry was carried out on cell suspensions from frozen samples, and the results were expressed as the DNA index. Image cytometry was performed on Feulgen-stained sections, and the results were expressed as the rate of cells exceeding 2.5c or 5c. For colorectal and breast cancers, DNA content by image cytometry was also measured on imprints and was expressed as the DNA index or rate of cells exceeding 2.5c and 5c.


RESULTS
Among flow cytometric diploid tumors, image cytometric analysis performed on histologic sections showed about 80% diploid tumors from the uterine cervix and breast cancers. The frequency decreased to 36% for oral cavity cancers. Generally satisfactory concordance was observed when flow cytometric aneuploid tumors were analyzed. A highly significant correlation was observed between DNA indices observed by flow and image cytometry on imprints.


CONCLUSIONS
Image cytometry appears more sensitive than flow cytometry in detecting small, aneuploid clones, but its main limitation is the low power in resolving near-diploid cell populations. The results on imprints indicate that image cytometry is a potential alternative approach for small tumor samples.
Faranda
A
A
Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Costa
A
A
Canova
S
S
Abolafio
G
G
Silvestrini
R
R
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000737:chemistry; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D011003:Ploidies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry
D004247:DNA