Comparison of DNA stemline and cell kinetics between primary breast cancer and its lymph node metastasis

Quantitative measurement of nuclear DNA in individual cells was performed on imprint smears of surgical specimens from 25 primary breast cancers and their concurrent regional lymph node metastases (LNMs). Twenty-five paired imprints taken from primary tumors and their LNMs were stained with the modified Feulgen method. The DNA content was measured with a scanning microdensitometer at a wavelength of 550 nm. The status of estrogen receptors in the primary tumor was measured with the charcoal-dextran-coated method. The DNA modal values were identical in 22 (88%) of 25 paired imprints. Among 13 estrogen receptor-positive (ER[+]) tumors, the DNA modal values were diploid or near-diploid (< 2.5C) in 8 (62%) primary tumors and 7 LNMs. In 10 estrogen receptor-negative (ER[-]) tumors, only 1 (10%) LNM had a near-diploid DNA modal value; all others were aneuploid. In primary tumors the DNA modal values of ER(+) tumors were significantly different from those of ER(-) tumors. The S-phase fraction value of a primary tumor correlated significantly with that of its LNMs. The percentage of cells with DNA content > 6.0C correlated highly between the primary tumor and its LNM. Of primary tumors, ER(-) tumors had more cells with high DNA content (> 6.0C) than ER(+) tumors did. A great similarity in cumulative DNA histograms between primary tumors and their LNMs was found, irrespective of the status of estrogen receptors. In conclusion, the primary breast cancer and its LNM had similar DNA distribution patterns--e.g., DNA modal value, S-phase fraction value and percentage of cells with high DNA content.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)