DNA profiles in mitotic cells from gastric adenomas.

Quantitative DNA measurements were done in mitotic figures from 17 gastric adenomas having slight (3 cases), moderate (8 cases), or severe dysplasia (3 cases) or foci of invasive adenocarcinoma (3 cases). Values higher than for normal diploid control cells (2c) or their estimated tetraploid values (4c) were found to increase gradually from slight dysplasia to invasive adenocarcinoma through moderate and severe dysplasia. While none of the adenomas having slight or moderate dysplasia demonstrated aneuploid mitoses (ie, values higher than 5c), 1% of the mitoses in severe dysplasia and 27% of those with invasive adenocarcinoma had values higher than 5c. The present results thus suggest that aneuploid mitotic figures may help to recognize those gastric adenomas having invasive growth.