[Combined flow cytometry determination of S-phase fraction and DNA ploidy is an independent prognostic factor in node-negative invasive breast carcinoma: review of a series of 271 patients with stage I and II breast cancer]

Advances in Intraoperative Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry is the gold-standard laser-based technique to measure and analyze fluorescence levels of immunostaining and DNA content in individual cells. It provides a valuable tool to assess cells in the G0/G1, S, and G2/M phases, and those with polyploidy, which holds prognostic significance. Frozen section analysis is the standard intraoperative assessment for tumor margin evaluation and tumor resection. Here, we present flow cytometry as a promising technique for intraoperative tumor analysis in different pathologies, including brain tumors, leptomeningeal dissemination, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, pancreatic tumor, and hepatic cancer. Flow cytometry is a valuable tool that can provide substantial information on tumor analysis and, consequently, maximize cancer treatment and expedite patients’ survival.

Silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions in normal and dysplastic cervical lesions: correlation with DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction by flow cytometry

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the prognostic significance of DNA ploidy and silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR), their relation to the cytological grades of cervical dysplasia and correlation of cells in the S-phase of the cell cycle and DNA ploidy with AgNOR count.

METHODS

Multiparametric DNA flow-cytometric analysis and AgNOR count were performed on cervical smear samples, cytologically diagnosed as normal (n = 196), atypical squamous cells of unknown significance (ASCUS, n = 98) and various grades of cervical dysplasia (n = 127).

RESULTS

Among the cytological grade, aneuploid cases from low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (mild) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (moderate and severe) groups were showing high AgNOR counts (ranges 4.33-5.86 and 5.91-7.42, respectively). Aneuploid cases from the ASCUS group also presented high AgNOR (range 3.72-4.93). The high percentage of cells in the S-phase (>12%) correlated with these 2 parameters in the ASCUS and dysplasia groups. After grouping the cases into those with high (>4.0) and low (<4.0) AgNOR counts, significant correlations in the group with high AgNOR count with DNA ploidy, S-phase and cytological grade were recorded (p < 0.001). Results obtained from follow-up study revealed that cases with aneuploidy, high AgNOR count and S-phase fraction presented with a progressive trend of disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, the study shows that high AgNOR count, S-phase fraction and aneuploid DNA have prognostic significance in the early detection of cervical cancer.