[Cytological features of small cell lung cancer--relation between nuclear chromatin change and chemotherapeutic...

This paper describes the relation between the cytologic features, change of chromatin and effect of chemotherapy in 75 cases of small cell lung cancer. Basing on the microscopic changes of the chromatin in the cancer cells, 4 types were observed: (1) chromatin evenly distributed with fine granules (2) chromatin evenly distributed with rough granules (3) chromatin sparsely distributed with rough granules (4) ink spot-like nuclei. Type 1 was found in 75.7% of the responders to chemotherapy while Type 3 was frequently observed in 69.2% of the non-responders. The results suggest that the changes of nuclear chromatin be used as an index to predict the response to chemotherapy, conforming to Takeshi's observation. Yet, in this series, the exfoliative cells were obtained from the sputum rather than Takeshi's brush during bronchoscopy. The authors believe that the changes of chromatin may be observed clearly if the sputum is fresh, smeared promptly and stained in the standard way.