Flow cytometric DNA ploidy analysis of feline mammary tumors

Flow cytometric DNA analysis was performed on biopsies from 9 nonmalignant and 111 malignant (primary and metastatic) feline mammary lesions. In our series, 46.3% of the primary mammary carcinomas appeared to be aneuploid, whereas all but one benign breast lesion were diploid. The degree of aneuploidy in carcinomas was low, with a relatively high number of primary tumors (12 of 82) displaying hypodiploidy. Aneuploidy was not found to be correlated with any specific histological tumor type, vascular invasion, tumor size, or histological malignancy grade or with the separate components thereof. Comparison of the ploidy in primary and metastatic tumors from the same cases revealed a remarkable stability, both in time and location of appearance of the metastases. It is concluded that with respect to DNA ploidy feline mammary carcinoma has more in common with canine mammary carcinoma than with human mammary carcinoma. Further prospective studies are necessary to clarify the implications of aneuploidy in feline mammary carcinoma for tumor behavior and prognosis.