DNA flow cytometry in uterine endometrial carcinoma

The DNA content was investigated by means of flow cytometry in frozen tumor specimens from 33 patients with uterine endometrial carcinoma. The association was tested between ploidy and S-phase fraction on one hand and clinico-pathological parameters on the other. Aneuploidy appeared in 15 (45%) of the patients, and the average S-phase fraction was 0.18 (0.04-0.34). There was a highly significant correlation between DNA-Index (DI) and histologic differentiation (p = 0.01) and a less significant correlation between DI and estrogen receptor content (p = 0.04). DNA ploidy measured by flow cytometry is a highly reproducible parameter that in addition to routine histopathological examination may provide useful information. Further studies are needed to establish the prognostic importance of the flow cytometric parameters.