Flow cytometric DNA analysis of pediatric intracranial ependymomas.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the clinicopathologic features and perform flow cytometric DNA analysis of pediatric intracranial ependymomas to determine whether any of these parameters were predictors of clinical outcome.


METHODS
Flow cytometric DNA analysis was performed on 17 paraffin-embedded tumors from patients aged 7 months to 16 years.


RESULTS
Seven cases were aneuploid, while the remaining 10 were diploid. Proliferative fractions varied from 1% to 17%.


CONCLUSIONS
No correlation between histologic features such as mitotic activity, cellularity, pleomorphism, vascular proliferation, and length of survival was observed. However, the presence of a diploid DNA stemline, elevated proliferative fraction, or young age were associated with a poor clinical outcome and shortened survival times (P < 0.05). Additional studies of larger patient groups with extended follow-up are necessary to confirm these findings.
Kotylo
P K
PK
Department of Pathology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-5200, USA.
Robertson
P B
PB
Fineberg
N S
NS
Azzarelli
B
B
Jakacki
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011003:Ploidies; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015996:Survival Rate
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm