[Endometrial carcinoma: prognostic significance of cellular ploidy].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the paper is to compare ploidy status with the traditional prognostic factors (grading, myometrial invasion, cytology of peritoneal fluid and node invasion) in 118 women affected by endometrial carcinoma and treated by hysterectomy in our department in order to evaluate a relationship between these parameters.


METHODS
Since January 1988 and August 1996 127 women (average age: 61) affected by endometrial carcinoma and not previously treated have been submitted to abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy. A retrospective study was carried out on 118 of these women evaluating DNA ploidy on fixed neoplastic samples through flow cytometry (Coulter Elite with Argon Laser). Aneuploidy was defined as cell population containing at the same time two or more moderate peaks in G0/G1. Histology of neoplastic tissues could evaluate grading and myometrial invasion in all cases. Cytology of peritoneal fluids and nodal state were evaluated respectively in 99 and 56 patients. The results obtained have been compared by Fisher's statistical test.


RESULTS
70.3% of evaluated neoplasias were diploid, while 29.7% were aneuploid. No statistical difference was observed comparing ploidy status with every considered parameter.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained show that DNA ploidy doesn't seem to be positively correlated with any traditional histopathological factors. The literature about this matter is questionable. Histopathological analysis is the only prognostic factor and it is the only parameter to personalize treatment.
Pasini
A
A
Divisione di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Ospedale Valduce, Como. ginecologia@valduce.it
Corbella
P
P
Colombo
E
E
Redaelli
L
L
Belloni
C
C
D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011003:Ploidies; D011379:Prognosis