Nguyen HN, Sevin BU, Averette HE, Ramos R, Ganjei P, Perras J. Evidence of tumor heterogeneity in cervical cancers and lymph node metastases as determined by flow cytometry.
Cancer 1993;
71:2543-50. [PMID:
8453577 DOI:
10.1002/1097-0142(19930415)71:8<2543::aid-cncr2820710818>3.0.co;2-u]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The incidence and significance of tumor heterogeneity in primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes were investigated in Stage IB-IIA cervical cancers.
METHODS
Paraffin-embedded tissues from 96 radical hysterectomy specimens were dewaxed, disaggregated, and subjected to dual parameter flow cytometry. Three-dimensional histograms were generated to delineate different tumor populations. A DNA index difference of at least +/- 0.15 was used to define tumor heterogeneity.
RESULTS
Mean DNA index difference of various tumor populations was 0.29 +/- 0.13. Among 69 patients with normal lymph nodes, there were 12 patients (incidence, 17.4%) with tumor heterogeneity in the primary tumors. Of 27 patients with metastatic lymph nodes, 5 (incidence, 18.5%) had evidence of tumor heterogeneity in the primary tumor, and 18 of 47 (incidence, 38.3%) had tumor heterogeneity in metastatic lymph nodes. When using DNA index to determine clonal origin of metastatic lymph nodes, as many as 60% of the metastases could not be traced to the primary tumor. Tumor heterogeneity was associated with a 40% reduction in median survival time. However, because of the small number of patients with tumor heterogeneity, statistical analyses did not show prognostic significance.
CONCLUSIONS
Tumor heterogeneity appeared to be a common characteristic of early cervical carcinoma. Additional study is needed to fully evaluate its prognostic value.
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