[DNA measurements and prognosis of rectal cancer]

The DNA concentration of 104 rectum carcinoma biopsies was measured by impulse cytophotometry. About 45% of these tumors had diploid cell lines. The rest contained hyperploid cell lines, and these patients had a less favorable prognosis than patients with diploid tumors. Metastasizing diploid as well as hyperploid tumors showed often a higher concentration of S-phase cells than the average of all patients. Tumor cell lines assessed in metastases had in general the same DNA concentration as primary tumors. The rate of cells with micronuclei increased with the concentration of S-phase cells found in the tumors. In surviving patients, the ratio S-phase cells - cells with micronuclei was often higher than in patients who died.