[DNA content and its correlation with biological behavior of non-small cell lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the relationship between DNA content and biological behavior and its prognostic significance in non-small cell lung cancer.


METHODS
Tumor DNA content was determined by flow cytometry in the specimens from 58 patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer. The DNA content of each cell subpopulation was expressed as the DNA index (DI), and an internal standard was provided by the normal pulmonary parenchymal cells in the same specimen. The prognostic value of DNA content in non-small cell lung cancer was assessed by Cox's model analysis.


RESULTS
In qualitative analysis, there was no relationship between DNA ploidy (diploidy or aneuploidy) and the following factors: tumor size, metastasis of lymph node, clinical stage, pathologic type, pathologic grade or survival. In quantitative analysis, high DNA index was observed in tumor size > 3 cm, metastasis of lymph node, stage III/IV, adenocarcinoma and shorter survival, which was statistically significant. Cox's model analysis showed that DNA index was a prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer and DNA index > 2.0 was an independent prognostic factor.


CONCLUSIONS
DNA index analysis is useful for the evaluation of the biological behavior and the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer.
Hu
Yan-ping
YP
Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan 430079, China.
He
Lan-xiang
LX
Yu
Ding
D
Xia
He-shun
HS
Ke
Yu-hua
YH
Yang
Ling
L
Jiang
Hui
H
Xiao
Zhi-hua
ZH
Fu
Xiao-yu
XY
Fan
Yu-hua
YH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm