[Nuclear DNA content and focal relapse of patients with small-cell carcinoma of the lung].

The relationship between the nuclear DNA content and the focal relapse of 17 patients with small-cell carcinoma completely responsive to treatment was studied. The nuclear DNA content was measured at 550 nm using a microspectrophotometer. The nuclear DNA histogram pattern was classified as either "Type A" (near-diploid) or "Type B" (hyperdiploid). Of the nine patients with type A, only one was found to have focal relapse of the intrathoracic lesion. However, of the eight patients with type B, focal relapse was observed in six (75%). No significant difference was discerned between the metastasis to other organs and the nuclear DNA histogram patterns. The nuclear DNA histogram patterns in small-cell carcinoma of the lung are correlated to the outcome of the patients.