[Flow cytometric analysis of DNA-ploidy in oral squamous cell carcinomas]

In an attempt to evaluate the significance of cellular DNA content as an objective prognostic indicator of oral squamous cell carcinomas, a retrospective analysis of 70 paraffin-embedded specimens using flow cytometry was performed. 41 patients (58.6%) had heteroploid tumors and 29 patients (41.4%) had diploid or nearly diploid DNA distribution pattern. There was significant difference in 5-year disease-free rate between patients with heteroploid and diploid or nearly diploid tumors, and the relationship between heteroploid and cervical metastasis approached statistical significance (0.10 greater than P greater than 0.05). The DNA content had no correlation with histologic grade, clinical stage and tumor size. It is concluded that patients with heteroploidy primary tumors have a significantly poorer prognosis than those with diploid or nearly diploid tumors and have higher risk for regional metastasis.