Nuclear feulgen DNA content and nuclear size in human breast carcinoma

Biopsy specimens from 29 patients with operable breast carcinomas were examined by Feulgen-DNA microspectrophotometry. A diploid DNA stemline was found in ten tumors, seven of which were stage I carcinomas. In 19 tumors, ten of which were stage II cancers, a non-diploid DNA stemline was observed. The diploid tumors were most often estrogen receptor-positive (nine of nine examined carcinomas), whereas 13 of 19 non-diploid tumors studied did not contain estrogen receptors. The mean nuclear size of the non-diploid tumor cells was increased compared with that of the diploid malignant cells. Three grade I carcinomas were diploid, whereas three grade III tumors were non-diploid. Of the 23 grade II carcinomas, seven were diploid and 16 non-diploid. Hum Pathol 13:626-630, 1982.