Association of ploidy and cell proliferation, Dukes' classification, and histopathological differentiation in adenocarcinomas of colon and rectum.

OBJECTIVES To find out if there is an association between DNA indexes and DNA synthesis (S) phase measurements and Dukes' classification and histopathological differentiation in colorectal cancers, and to investigate the interrelationship between DNA indexes and S phase measurements. DESIGN Prospective open study. MATERIAL 182 colorectal carcinomas in 181 consecutive patients. INTERVENTION Tumours biopsied immediately after resection or at rectoscopy or colonoscopy. RESULTS One or more aneuploid cell populations were found in 113 of 182 carcinomas (62%). There was no correlation between Dukes' stage and either degree of differentiation or S phase measurements, but there were significant correlations between S phase measurements and histological grading (p less than 0.05), and between the percentage of cells in the S phase and the DNA index when values for both diploid and aneuploid tumours were included (p less than 0.001). CONCLUSION The degree of aneuploidy indicates how far tumour cells have progressed in their cellular disarrangement, and information about a tumour's proliferative capacity is given by the S phase measurements.