Tumour aneuploidy, prognostic parameters and survival in primary breast cancer

Abstract

Summary Cellular DNA content of primary tumours from 280 patients with operable breast cancer was determined by flow cytometry using nuclei from paraffin sections stained with DAPI, and 199 of these patients were followed for 8-13 years after surgery. Tumours from 67 patients have also been analyzed for their DNA content using single cell suspensions from fresh tumour tissue stained with mithramycin and ethidium bromide, and the results compared with those obtained from paraffin blocks of the same tumours.Overall

The prognostic significance of nuclear DNA content in invasive breast cancer – a study with long-term follow-up

“…Most authors (Thorud et al, 1986;Coulson et al, 1984;Hedley et al, 1987;Kallioniemi et al, 1987;Dowle et al, 1987;Cornelisse et al, 1987;Ewers et al, 1984;Stal et al, 1989), but not all (van der Linden et al, 1989;Uyterlinde et al, 1988;Owainati et al, 1987), agree that DNA aneuploidy is associated with unfavourable survival in breast cancer. In most studies this association has, however, been weak.…”

“…However, the prognostic value of nuclear DNA content analysis is still unsettled. Some authors report DNA content to be the most important prognostic variable in breast cancer, and to have independent prognostic value in a multivariate analysis , whereas others find it to have prognostic value only in a univariate analysis (Stal et al, 1989;Hedley et al, 1984), and yet a few fail to find any prognostic significance at all when overall survival is concerned (van der Linden et al, 1989;Uyterlinde et al, 1988;Owainati et al, 1987 …”

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA content and keratins by using CK7, CK8, CK18, CK19, and KL1 monoclonal antibodies in benign and malignant human breast tumors

“…Flow cytometric studies have shown that DNA measurement in breast cancer cells provides valuable information on the prognosis and, possibly, the choice of therapy for breast cancer patients (4,7,10,13,19,25,31).…”

Variations associated with the DNA analysis of multiple fine needle aspirates obtained from breast cancer patients

“…While there was no variation between sequential FNAs in four patients, marked differences in the DNA profile were observed in the remaining nine patients undergoing treatment, the changes not necessarily being associated with clinical response to therapy. It is concluded that the monitoring of cellular changes by DNA analysis of sequential FNAs may be complex and subject to problems associated with heterogeneity.Flow cytometric DNA analysis can provide useful information on the cellular characteristics of breast tumours (Auer et al, 1980;Baildam et al, 1987;Cornelisse et al, 1987;Dowle et al, 1987; Kallioniemi et al, 1987a, b;Owainati et al, 1987). Recently, we demonstrated that fine needle aspiration of most breast cancers can provide sufficient cellular material for meaningful analysis of DNA profiles using flow cytometry (Levack et al, 1987).…”

“…Flow cytometric DNA analysis can provide useful information on the cellular characteristics of breast tumours (Auer et al, 1980;Baildam et al, 1987;Cornelisse et al, 1987;Dowle et al, 1987; Kallioniemi et al, 1987a, b;Owainati et al, 1987). Recently, we demonstrated that fine needle aspiration of most breast cancers can provide sufficient cellular material for meaningful analysis of DNA profiles using flow cytometry (Levack et al, 1987).…”