[Possibilities of DNA impulse cytophotometry in kidney cancers]

DNA flow cytometry (DNA-FCM) is a modern technique allowing quantitative tumor cell analysis. In tissue samples from 62 renal carcinomas, ploidy was determined and cell cycle analysis performed by DNA-FCM. We checked for correlation between the FCM data and the tumor stage according to Robson the histological grade after Hermanek, and the condition according to the combined staging and grading system. With reference to the stage-grade system, the DNA aneuploidy rate increased significantly from tumors with increasing degree of malignancy. Tumors classed according to Robson's classification system as highly malignant exhibited higher DNA aneuploidy rates. The 15 tumors that had metastasized showed higher DNA indices and higher proportions of cells in S-phase than did the 47 tumors without metastases. When used in conjunction with the stage-grade classification for renal carcinomas, DNA-FCM analysis provides useful information about the proliferative behavior, including the susceptibility of these tumors to chemotherapy.