Absence of correlation between nuclear morphometry and survival in stage I non‐small cell lung carcinoma

• Published in: Cancer 1992-05, Vol.69 (10), p.2454-2457
• Main Authors: Cagle, Philip T., Langston, Claire, Fraire, Armatzdo E., Roggli, Victor L., Greenberg, S. Donald
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - surgery; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - ultrastructure; Cell Nucleus - pathology; Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - surgery; Lung Neoplasms - ultrastructure; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Pneumology; Prognosis; Survival Analysis
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(19920515)69:10<2454::AID-CNCR2820691012>3.0.CO;2-K

To evaluate the utility of nuclear morphometry as a prognostic indicator in lung cancer, 5‐year follow‐up information was obtained in 46 cases of surgically resected Stage I non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nuclear area, perimeter, major diameter, minor diameter, and nuclear shape factor were determined from representative histologic sections of the tumors with a computer‐assisted digitizing system. The morphometric parameters were compared between patients with favorable outcome (Group I: alive with no evidence of disease, n = 17) and those with poor outcome (Group 11: dead of disease or with recurrence of disease, n = 29). No significant differences in any of the morphometric parameters were found between tumors in Groups I and II for individual tumor cell types or the combined cases. Failure to demonstrate a correlation between morphometric parameters and prognosis in Stage I NSCLC indicates that future efforts to determine objective prognostic factors should concentrate on other variables, such as specific genetic abnormalities. Cancer 1992: 69:2454‐2457.