[Image analysis of DNA cytometry in tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract]

The prognostic influence on the DNA content was investigated in 189 patients (esophagus carcinoma n = 45, gastric cancer n = 103, pancreatic cancer n = 41) who underwent a curative resection. In a multivariate analysis the DNA content had a strong as well as an independent influence on the prognosis in esophagus cancer and in pancreatic carcinoma. In gastric cancer, the DNA content had no influence on the prognosis. These results show that the DNA content of the tumor cells, as a measurement of the numerous chromosomal aberrations, well reflects the aggressiveness of the tumor growth in esophagus- and pancreatic cancer. In these tumors it represents the decisive criteria for the prognostic judgement.