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The cellular DNA content in fine-needle prostatic aspirates from 500 untreated patients was determined by flow cytofluorometry. According to the DNA patterns diploid, tetraploid, and non-tetraploid aneuploid cases were identified. In 301 cytologically benign cases more than 90% showed diploid DNA patterns. Among 166 carcinomas the incidence of aneuploid DNA values increased with the degree of anaplasia, ie, 44% in well-differentiated, 78% in moderately differentiated, and 97% in poorly differentiated tumors. In aneuploid cases of well-differentiated carcinomas almost exclusively tetraploid DNA patterns were observed, while in poorly differentiated carcinomas about 80% showed non-tetraploid aneuploid DNA distributions. Among aneuploid cases of moderately differentiated carcinomas 2/3 were tetraploid and 1/3 non-tetraploid aneuploid. Morphologically similar tumors may thus be separated by the DNA profiles. The biological significance of these results must be further evaluated by clinical follow-up of the patients.
Rönstrom et al. (Thu,) studied this question.