Nuclear DNA content as a prognostic predictor in carcinoma of the pancreas

Eighty-six patients with carcinoma of the pancreas were studied retrospectively. Paraffin-embedded specimens and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the accuracy of the measurement of nuclear DNA as a predictor of the postoperative prognosis. From the series of 86 patients, 72 with a diagnosis of tubular adenocarcinoma (Japanese classification) were selected, and their DNA ploidy pattern and clinical and pathological features were correlated; 52.3% of the 86 patients and 52.8% of the 72 tubular adenocarcinoma patients showed DNA aneuploidy. Histological examinations of the tubular adenocarcinomas showed 42.9% DNA aneuploidy in well differentiated, 56.8% in moderately differentiated, and 71.4% in poorly differentiated types. The DNA ploidy showed a statistically significant positive correlation with the T category. The presence or absence of retroperitoneal invasion was thought to be the most important prognostic factor. Cumulative survival rates showed that the prognosis for patients with retroperitoneal invasion and DNA aneuploidy was significantly worse than for those with DNA diploidy or those without retroperitoneal invasion.