Studies on the DNA content of breast carcinoma cells with neuroendocrine differentiation.
OBJECTIVE
To make quantitative analysis of DNA content of breast cancer with neuroendocrine (NE) cells and its significance.


METHODS
Using MIPS-III image analyzer, DNA content and 9 parameter measurements of the tumor nuclei were made in both NE positive (17) and negative (64) breast carcinomas.


RESULTS
Out of 81 breast carcinomas, 17 cases were NE positive while 64 cases were NE negative. In the NE (+) cases, the integral optic density, mean optic density, DNA index, DNA stemlines peak, > 5c aneuploidy cells and the rate of aneuploidy cells were all lower than those in the NE negative breast carcinoma cases (P < 0.01). The positive rates of NE cells were 32.5% and 7.9% in grade I - II breast carcinomas and in grade III breast carcinomas respectively with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that NE (+) breast carcinomas have lower DNA parameters than NE (-) breast carcinomas, suggesting that NE (+) breast carcinomas have lower malignancy.
Yao
Genyou
G
Department of Pathology, Zhejiang University Medical School, Hangzhou 310031, China. yaogy@zjuem.zju.edu.cn
Zhou
Jilin
J
Zhao
Zhongsheng
Z
D000782:Aneuploidy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm