DNA distribution pattern in intestinal carcinoid tumors

• Published in: World journal of surgery 1986-08, Vol.10 (4), p.548-553
• Main Authors: Cohn, Gabriella, Erhardt, Kerstin, Cedermark, Björn, Hamberger, Bertil, Auer, Gert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aneuploid Cell; Carcinoid Tumor; Carcinoid Tumor - analysis; Carcinoid Tumor - pathology; Carcinoid Tumor - surgery; Diploid Level; DNA, Neoplasm - analysis; Female; Humans; Intestinal Carcinoid; Intestinal Neoplasms - analysis; Intestinal Neoplasms - pathology; Intestinal Neoplasms - surgery; Male; Mese; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 0364-2313; 1432-2323
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01655522

The DNA distribution pattern has been suggested to be of prognostic value in several malignant tumors in which diploidy is indicative of low malignancy potential. The present study retrospectively evaluates the DNA content in intestinal carcinoid tumors. The charts of 27 patients treated for carcinoid tumors between 1965 and 1984 were reviewed. Paraffin‐embedded specimens from 22 primary tumors were available. The DNA content in individual cells was measured on histological sections of 4‐μm thickness, according to a cytophotometric method based on light transmission measurements of Feulgen‐stained nuclei. Seventeen tumors were localized to the small intestine, 1 to the appendix, 3 to the colon, and 1 to the rectum. There were 13 men and 9 women with a mean age of 59 years. Nine patients died of disseminated disease, with survival times ranging from 3 to 12 years (median: 5 years). For the 13 living patients, the follow‐up times ranged from 8 months to 16 years and 8 months. All but 1 tumor showed a majority of their nuclear DNA values around the diploid level. One tumor had 87% nondiploid cells and 14% aneuploid cells. The patient underwent a radical operation and is disease free 2 years after surgery. According to this preliminary study, intestinal carcinoid tumors are rarely aneuploid. The patients also had fairly long survival times. Thus, these observations are in agreement with the fact that carcinoid tumors often have a relatively benign course compared to other malignant tumors of the intestinal tract. Résumé Il a été dit que le mode de distribution de l'ADN revêtrait une valeur de pronostic chez plusieurs cellules malignes où la diploïdie témoignerait d'un faible potentiel de malignité. L'étude rétrospective effectuée par les auteurs a eu pour but d'évaluer le contenu ADN dans les tumeurs carcinoïdes intestinales. Les observations de 27 malades opérés de tumeurs carcinoïdes de 1965 à 1984 ont été soumises à l'étude. Vingt‐deux spécimens incorporés dans la paraffine ont été disponibles. L'ADN dans les cellules a été mesurée sur des coupes histologiques de 4 mm d'épaisseur par une méthode cytophotométrique basée sur les mesures de transmission de la lumière des noyaux colorés par le Feulgen. Dix‐sept tumeurs concernaient l'intestin grêle, 1 l'appendice, 3 le colon et 1 le rectum. Elles s'étaient développées chez 13 hommes et 9 femmes dont l'âge moyen était de 59 ans. Neuf malades moururent de la généralisation de la maladie, les temps de survie allan