Nuclear DNA content and prognosis in human breast cancer: a static cytophotometric study

Nuclear DNA content was measured by static cytophotometry in smears from breast carcinomas from 80 women, and the results were correlated with other prognostic variables and survival using multivariate statistical analysis. 49% of patients had diploid tumors and 51% hyperdiploid tumors. There was a strong correlation between DNA ploidy and axillary lymph node status, tumor size, ER status, and short term survival (median follow-up 40 months). Of all parameters measured, ploidy showed the strongest correlation with survival, and was a significant prognostic indicator even when other prognostic factors were taken into account.