Carcinogenesis in Chronic Ulcerative Colitis: Flow Cytometry

Abstract

Flow cytometry is a conceptually straightforward quantitative method that can be used to determine the DNA content (and many ocher parameters) of individual cells. It has been used in chronic ulcerative colitis to evaluate the presence of aneuplo idy as a marker of colon cancer risk. In this paper, the basic principles offlow cytometry are reviewed, the current status of published studies using flow cytometric analysis of DNA content in chronic ulcerative colitis outlined, conclusions from the research are proposed and future research needs it~cntified. Overall, aneuploidy correlates with the current best markers of cancer risk in ulcerative colitis, ie, dysplasia and established cancer. Whether aneuplo1dy will be useful for the prospective identification of individuals at increased risk for colon cancer deserves rigorous evaluation. An important technical issue of potential variability in interpretation of near diplo id peak5 is emphasized. Can J Gastroenterol 1990;4(7):390-396 Key Words: Cancer, Flow cycometry, Surveillance, Ulcerarit1e colitis La carcinogenese dans la colite ulcereuse chronique et la cytometrie de flux RESUME: La cytometrie de flux est une methode quantitative simple pouvant servir a determiner le contenu d'ADN (parmi de nombreux parametres) des cellules individuelles. Elle permet de reperer l'aneuplo'idie en tant que marqueur de risque de cancer du colon dans la co lite ulcereuse chronique. Le present article passe en revue les principes elementaires de la cytometrie de flux, evalue le statue present des etudes publiees dans le domaine, presence leun, conclusions et definit les futurs besoins de la recherche. En general, ii ya correlation entre l'aneuplo'idie et les meilleurs indices de risque de cancer clans la colite ulcereuse, c'est-a-dire la dysplasie et le cancer etabli.11 est necessaire de proceder a un examen rigoureux afin de determiner si l'aneuplo'idie permettra de determiner qui presentent un risque eleve de cancer colique. L'auteur souleve une question technique importante: celle de la variabilite potentielle d'interpretation des pies proches de l'etat diplo'ide.