[DNA content and its distribution pattern of poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma measured by Feulgen cytophotometry].

Nuclear area and DNA content of the normal columnar cells and cancer cells which were small, fusiform, irregular, vesicular-nuclear, giant malformed-nuclear and giant vesicular-nuclear were measured by Leitz MPV-III microscope photometer with HP-85 microcomputer in 32 poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and 5 chronic nasopharyngitis sections. Based on different DNA contents and distribution patterns, it was divided into 4 cancer cell populations: small, fusiform and/or irregular, vesicular-nuclear and giant tumor cell populations. It should be noted that the nuclear DNA pattern of vesicular-nuclear cancer cell population had pathognomonic characteristics. The nuclear unit DNA content ratio of vesicular-nuclear cancer cells to lymphocytes was under 0.4. This cancer cell population was sensitive to irradiation. If the biological characteristics of these four cancer cell populations could be clarified not only in nuclear DNA pattern but also in biochemistry at molecular level, it will be possible to design the different treatment trials on the different cancer cell populations, then resulting in better prognosis of NPC patients.