DNA grading of malignancy and tumor regression in prostatic carcinoma under hormone therapy.

The prognostic value of the DNA malignancy grade (DNA-MG) and of the DNA regression index (DNA-RI) for survival was tested in 19 patients with prostatic carcinoma under hormone therapy. Measurements were performed on repeated Feulgen-stained transrectal aspiration biopsy smears by DNA image cytometry. The DNA-MG was demonstrated to be an objective scalar index of high prognostic value for the individual patient. The prospective tumor response to hormone therapy could be predicted from the DNA-MG. Independently of the DNA-MG, the DNA-RI provided additional prognostic information concerning tumor regression and survival of prostatic cancer patients under conservative therapy. The determination of DNA-RI allows the early identification of an ineffective conservative therapy.