Correlation of DNA distribution and cytological differentiation of human cervical carcinomas

The DNA distribution of biopsy specimens from 46 patients suffering from cervical carcinoma was analysed by flow cytometry and compared with the cytological differentiation. According to morphological criteria the carcinomas were classified as highly differentiated, moderately differentiated and poorly differentiated. The results demonstrate that highly differentiated tumours contain hyperploid cells predominantly with hyperdiploid DNA content. Hyperploid cell populations in the moderately differentiated tumours are mainly in the hyperdiploid and tetraploid regions. Poorly differentiated tumours contain hypertetraploid and aneuploid cell populations. The significance of these findings is discussed.