Ability of bivariate cytokeratin and deoxyribonucleic acid flow cytometry to determine the biologic aggressiveness of resectable non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to clarify the significance of bivariate cytokeratin and DNA flow cytometry for analysis of the biologic aggressiveness of resectable non-small cell lung cancer.


METHODS
In 92 patients who underwent curative operations, the DNA ploidy status and S-phase fractions of the cancer cell populations inside the tumors were analyzed by a cytokeratin gating technique with paraffin-embedded specimens and were correlated with the surgical results.


RESULTS
Ninety tumors yielded assessable DNA histograms. DNA diploidy was detected in 25 tumors with a mean S-phase fraction of 14.3% +/- 4.7%, and DNA aneuploidy was detected in 65 tumors with a mean S-phase fraction of 15.1% +/- 7.1%. The 5-year overall and recurrence-free survivals were 73.3% and 70.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that only TNM staging was a prognostic factor after surgery. There was a negative correlation between the logarithms of S-phase fraction and the disease-free interval for 22 patients with proven recurrence (P =.006). The tumors with high S-phase fractions recurred more rapidly than did those with low S-phase fractions.


CONCLUSIONS
In a bivariate analysis of cytokeratin and DNA flow cytometry in resectable non-small cell lung cancer, the S-phase fraction appeared to be correlated with the disease-free interval. However, DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction were not predictive of either recurrence or survival after operation. Thus DNA flow cytometry may be of limited use for the analysis of the biologic aggressiveness of lung cancer.
Otsuka
Hiroshi
H
First Department of Surgery, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohnogashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan. hiroshi@otsuka-japan.com
Funai
Sadao
S
Azumi
Tatsuya
T
Hara
Satoshi
S
Okuno
Kiyotaka
K
Yasutomi
Masayuki
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011003:Ploidies; D016196:S Phase / Q000502:physiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D007633:Keratins