Ploidy level and short-time prognosis of early cervix cancer

The DNA distribution in carcinoma of the uterine cervix was investigated by flow cytometric analysis. The study includes 105 patients stages Ib and IIa. Approximately 80% of the tumours contained aneuploid cell populations. According to the distribution of ploidy levels the tumours were divided into two groups with a cellular DNA content below and above 1.5 X the normal diploid DNA content, respectively. The ploidy level was not correlated with the extension of the tumours, but an obvious correspondence was found between the ploidy level and the frequency of lymph node metastases in surgically treated patients. A statistically significant correlation was also demonstrated between the ploidy level and the recurrence frequency irrespective of treatment with radiotherapy or surgery.