Ploidy level, histopathological differentiation and response to chemotherapy in serious ovarian cancer

The ploidy level was measured in tumour specimens from 64 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (FIGO stages III and IV) by flow cytometric analysis. The same tumours were histopathologically graded based on a score system considering eight histopathological parameters. The results showed that both the histopathological grading index (HGI) and the DNA index were important to the frequency of complete pathological remission as assessed by second look operation. A combination of the two parameters allowed a division of the patients into three groups with different frequencies of complete pathological remission and survival. It is concluded that flow cytometric analysis and extended histopathological grading may be important adjuncts in the evaluation of malignant epithelial ovarian tumours.