[DNA-RNA cytofluorometric analysis of a case of osteosarcoma in relation to histological characteristics]

We applied DNA-RNA cytofluorometry with AO stain to cell kinetic analysis of osteosarcoma in a 12-year-old girl in relation to its histological characteristics. Histological findings obtained for 9 macroscopically different lesions were grouped into 4 main structural characteristics, but their cytofluorometric results were classified into 2 main patterns of DNA-RNA distribution. One showed remarkable polyploidization with many DNA synthetic cells in the invasive lesions, which were composed of pleomorphic cells forming osteoid or occasionally cartilaginous matrix. The other showed marked accumulation of tetraploid cells almost without DNA synthetic cells, being composed of relatively uniform fibroblastic or stellate-like cells in the cartilaginous matrix. These results indicated a close relationship between cell proliferative activity and the tissue environment.