Flow cytometric analysis of stemline heterogeneity.

The stemline heterogeneity of malignant tumors is closely connected with tumor aneuploidy. Both features can be characterized by either chromosome analysis or DNA cytophotometry. DNA analysis may be performed either by single cell photometry or by flow cytometry, of which the respective advantages and drawbacks are presented. Preliminary results of flow cytometric DNA analysis in malignant neoplasms are discussed; the possibilities of multiparametric measurement for quantitative analysis of various biochemical and antigenic properties in DNA stemlines are considered.