DNA quantitation of distal bile duct carcinoma measured by image and flow cytometry.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate discrepancies between flow cytometry (FCM) and image cytometry (ICM), ploidy incidence and relation between DNA ploidies and survival in distal bile duct carcinomas (DBDCs).


METHODS
Forty-four archival tumor samples from patients with DBDC who underwent subtotal pancreatoduodenectomy from 1985 to 1996 were examined for DNA ploidy using FCM and ICM.


RESULTS
Overall, 59% (26/44) of the tumors were aneuploid by at least one of the two techniques. We detected more cases of aneuploidy with ICM than FCM in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded DBDCs, 62% (21/34) versus 33% (13/40), respectively. When results could be compared, moderate strength of agreement (kappa = .45) was demonstrated. No correlation was found between DNA ploidy by FCM, ICM or combined FCM-ICM and survival time (P = .80, P = .35, and P = .54, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Approximately 59% of DNA histograms contained aneuploid cell populations. Although ICM, as compared to FCM, is more sensitive in assessing the ploidy status of DBDC, both methods were complementary. Most discrepancies between FCM and ICM were due to the dilution of aneuploid populations by non-neoplastic diploid cells. DNA ploidy assessment in DBDC did not offer the possibility of improving the ability to predict survival.
Rijken
A M
AM
Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Belien
J A
JA
van Gulik
T M
TM
Polak
M M
MM
Offerhaus
G J
GJ
Gouma
D J
DJ
Baak
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D007620:Karyometry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D011003:Ploidies; D015996:Survival Rate
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm