title: Prognostic value of DNA ploidy and nuclear morphometry in prostate cancer treated with androgen deprivation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prognostic value of flow cytometry and nuclear morphometry in prostate cancer after androgen deprivation treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 127 patients with a prostate cancer diagnosis who had undergone androgen suppression were retrospectively studied. The DNA content by flow cytometry and nuclear morphometry was studied from biopsy specimens. In the patients with Stage M0, two multivariate analyses by the Cox proportional regression model were performed to determine whether the experimental variables (DNA content and nuclear area) added independent information to the classic prognostic factors (Gleason score and stage). Using the statistical analysis results, risk groups were created.
  
  
  RESULTS
  T and M categories, Gleason score, DNA ploidy, and mean nuclear area proved to have prognostic value in the univariate analysis. For the group of patients free of metastasis (M0), it was possible to create low, intermediate, and high-risk groups using stage and Gleason score with statistically significant differences in survival. Multivariate analysis, combining the classic and experimental variables, selected Gleason score and DNA content as prognostic independent factors. Also, risk groups with statistically significant differences in survival were created. However, the net result of combining both kinds of factors was at least as valuable as the combination of stage and Gleason score in predicting survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The determination of DNA ploidy and mean nuclear area do not add enough independent information to improve the predictive value to justify their use in this group of patients treated with hormonal therapy.
authors: Department of Urology, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: Martínez-Jabaloyas
authors: José L
authors: JL
authors: Ruiz-Cerdá
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Hernández
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Jiménez
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Jiménez-Cruz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011003:Ploidies; D011379:Prognosis; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies