DNA aneuploidy in anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid gland.

Nuclear DNA content of 19 cases of large cell or spindle cell anaplastic carcinomas of the thyroid was studied by flow cytometry. In 17 cases archival paraffin-embedded tissue and in 2 cases fresh material obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy was used for DNA content determination. Unequivocal evidence of DNA aneuploidy was obtained in 13 cases (68%). Two tumors contained more than one aneuploid stemline of cells. Eighteen (95%) of the patients died within 20 months after diagnosis, but 1 patient has survived for 13 years. The observed survival rate of the patients with carcinoma with a DNA index (DI) less than 1.30 was superior as compared with tumors with a DI greater than 1.30 (P = 0.007). All 7 patients with tumors with DIs greater than 1.30 died within seven months, whereas 5 of the 11 patients with tumors with DIs less than 1.30 survived longer than one year after the diagnosis.