Flow cytometry in clinical oncology: cell cycle and DNA ploidy in assessing tumor behavior.

The basic principles of flow cytometry with special emphasis to cell cycle analysis and DNA ploidy measurements are described. The concept of separation of various subcompartments of cell cycle, distinguished by simultaneous determinations of DNA versus RNA and DNA versus protein contents is presented. Based on DNA ploidy patterns, human tumors were divided into two groups designated as diploid range and non-diploid (aneuploid). Since it has been proposed that diploid range tumors have generally better prognoses than non-diploid tumors, the value of DNA ploidy patterns as a prognostic factor is discussed in major groups of human cancers.