The current status of flow cytometry in gynecologic oncology

In recent years, the use of flow cytometry has expanded from its initial research role to include the detection of clinically relevant abnormalities in the nuclear DNA content of tumor cells and variations in cell-growth kinetics. Retrospective studies have shown that DNA ploidy, and possibly the proliferative or S-phase fraction, is a valuable prognostic indicator in patients with gynecologic malignancies, including gestational trophoblastic disease, early- and late-stage ovarian cancer, squamous-cell cervical cancer and its precursor lesions, and endometrial adenocarcinoma. Further prospective studies are needed to establish the exact value of flow cytometry for gynecologic and other tumors. However, the prognostic value of this information certainly will influence the clinical management of patients with these malignancies in the near future.