Abstract
The heterogeneity in the DNA content was analysed in multiple biopsies from the surgical specimens in 77 cases of colonic and 46 cases of rectal adenocarcinomas. Frozen and unfixed tumour tissue was analysed with the flow cytometric technique. A total of 78/123 (63%) of all tumours displayed aneuploid stemlines in one or more pieces of tumour tissue; 45 were homogeneously aneuploid and 33 were heterogeneous, presenting both aneuploid and near-diploid samples. The remaining 45 tumours were homogeneously near-diploid. The heterogeneity in ploidy tended to be slightly higher if ten as compared with four samples from each tumour were analysed. Ploidy correlated to localization in the bowel and gender, but not to age, histopathological tumour stage, tumour differentiation or to the resectability rate for cure. The mean value of the S-phase fraction was 17% (range 7–31%) in the near-diploid and 14% (range 8–20%) in the aneuploid tumours. The range of the intratumoural variation was small for the DNA index (at most 5%) and high for the S-phase fraction (19% for neardiploid and 24% for aneuploid tumour pieces). Neither the mean value nor the heterogeneity in the DNA index and in the S-phase fraction displayed any correlation with the studied characteristics. In conclusion, the ploidy and the S-phase fraction varied considerably both within and between the tumours. As a consequence, multiple sampling is mandatory for a correct classification of colorectal adenocarcinomas based on the DNA content.
Résumé
L'hétérogénéité en DNA a été analysée sur de multiples biopsies provenant de spécimens chirurgicaux de 77 cas de cancers du colon et de 46 cas d'adénocarcinomes rectaux. Le tissu tumoral congelé et non fixé fut analysé par la technique du flux cytométrique. 78 des 123 tumeurs (63%) montraient une aneuploidie sur un ou plusieurs morceaux de tissu tumoral. 45 étaient aneuploides de façon homogène et 33 de façon hétérogène avec des échantillons aneuploides ou presque diploide. Les 45 tumeurs restantes étaient presque diploides de façon homogène. La tendance à l'hétérogénéité de la ploidie avait tendance à être légèrement plus élevée lorsque 10 échantillons plutôt que 4 de chaque tumeur étaient analysés. La ploidie était correlée avec la localisation dans l'intestin et le sexe mais non avec l'âge le stade histopathologique de la tumeur, la différenciation tumorale ou le taux de réséquabilité. La valeur moyenne de la fraction S-phase était de 17% (7–31%) dans les tumeurs presque diploides et 14% (8–20%) dans les tumeurs aneuploides. L'étendue de la variation intratumorale était petite pour l'index de DNA (5% au plus) et élevée pour la fraction S-Phase (19%) pour les tumeurs presque diploides et 24% pour les pièces des tumeurs aneuploides. Ni la valeur moyenne ni l'hétérogénéité dans l'index de DNA et de la fraction S-phase ne montraient de corrélation avec les caractéristiques étudiées. En conclustion la ploidie et la fraction S-phase varient considérablement à la fois dans la même tumeur et entre les tumeurs. Par voie de conséquence, de multiples échantillons doivent obligatoirement être demandés pour une classification correcte des adénocarcinomes colorectaux basés sur le contenu en DNA.
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Lindmark, G., Glimelius, B., Påhlman, L. et al. Heterogeneity in ploidy and S-phase fraction in colorectal adenocarcinomas. Int J Colorect Dis 6, 115–120 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300207
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300207