[Application of nuclear image analysis to diagnosis in oncology]

Cell image analysis applied to Feulgen stained cells allows description of each nucleus according to 15 parameters which measure DNA content, shape and size of the nucleus, as well as chromatin texture and distribution. We have studied the effects of hormones or chemotherapy on human and murine mammary cancer cell lines and on an in vivo murine mammary tumor. The method was then applied to different kinds of human cancers and proved to bring consistent results with anatomopathological grading (breast, colon, bladder), with estrogen receptor content (breast) and with molecular tumor marker (hybridization to the 16 or 18 papilloma virus in uterine cervix dysplasia).