title: Relationship between nuclear morphometry, DNA content and resectability of pancreatic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association of nuclear morphometry and DNA content with resectability of pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 36 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma were divided into resectable group and unresectable group. The nuclear morphometry and DNA contents of tumor cells were analyzed by IBAS autoimagine analyzer from paraffin-embedded materials. Localization size, histological type and grade, and clinical stage of the tumor were evaluated. Factors influencing resectability of pancreatic cancer were investigated using stepwise regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical significance was found in nuclear DNA content (integrated optical density, IOD) of tumor cells (1.64+/-0.41 vs 2.96+/-0.55), DNA ploidy, ages (46.5+/-5.3 years vs 58.6+/-0.7 years) and tumor volumes (298.1+/-101.5 cm(3) vs 634.7+/-512.5 cm(3)) in both groups (P<0.05), and no difference was found in the nuclear morphometry (P>0.05). The rates of diploid/tetraploid and aneuploid were 66.7 % and 33.3 % in resectable group respectively, and 38.9 % and 62.1 % in unresectable group, respectively (P<0.05). IOD (X(12)), ploidy status (X(12)) and clinical stage (X(3)) were radical resectable indicators with statistical significance. The regression equation for resectability was Y=-9.2053+3.5428X(12)+2.5390X(13)-2.3001X(3) (RR=0.8780, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high correlation between resectability of pancreatic cancers and their DNA contents, DNA ploidy status and clinical stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China. w030508h@public.wh.hb.cn
authors.forename: Yin-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jian-Guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Ji-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011003:Ploidies
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm