DNA content and prognosis in renal cell carcinoma. A comparison between primary tumors and metastases.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content was retrospectively determined by single-cell cytophotometry in primary tumors and corresponding metastases from 32 patients with renal cell carcinoma. In 15 of the primary tumors a diploid/near diploid and in 17 an aneuploid DNA content was found. A diploid/near diploid DNA pattern was revealed in 10 metastases and 22 were aneuploid. By comparing the DNA content in the primary tumors with their metastases, 13 of 32 showed a clear divergency, which might illustrate tumor cell heterogeneity of renal cell carcinoma. The DNA pattern showed a close correlation to morphologic grading. A correlation between DNA content in the metastases and survival time was found. Patients, with diploid/near diploid metastases survived significantly longer than those with aneuploid DNA contents (mean, 31.1 and 11.5 months, respectively; P = 0.004). In contrast to this, no correlation was found between DNA content in the primary tumors and survival time.