Classifying breast carcinomas with DNA measurements and morphometry.

The relation between the DNA distribution pattern and the variables DNA content and nuclear area was investigated in 73 breast carcinomas. According to the DNA patterns, the tumors were subclassified into groups I, II, III, and IV (Auer's classification). The Auer's classes correlate with prognosis. In this investigation it was shown that Auer's classes strongly correlate with the standard deviation of DNA content and mean nuclear area. The carcinomas were subclassified using data of DNA content and nuclear area. For the establishment of this subclassification, multivariate analysis was applied. It was evident that Auer's group III was a hybrid group. Therefore a second classification rule was calculated without the data of Auer's group III. This second classification rule was even more successful in determining the Auer's group of each individual case. Our investigation shows that it is possible to subclassify breast carcinomas objectively using DNA content and nuclear area of the tumor cells.