DNA content of large intestinal adenoma

In order to assess the developmental transition of large intestinal adenoma into carcinoma, the relationship between the DNA content of the epithelial nuclei and the histologic gradation of epithelial cells in such adenoma was studied. Histologic gradation was based on the extent of epithelial pseudostratification. As a control, the DNA contents of normal and cancerous epithelia were also measured. The DNA content of a nucleus in normal epithelium was 2.72 +/- 1.02N (N: arbitrary unit), and the value was 5.10 +/- 3.30N in cancerous epithelium. The mean DNA content of epithelial nuclei in adenoma was intermediate between normal and cancerous levels. In adenomas, the average DNA content steadily increased with the advance of histologic gradation.