[The clinical significance of nuclear DNA content measurements in pancreatic neoplasms and their Kaplan-Meier survival analysis].

Between 1979 and 1991, 48 cases of pancreatic paraffin-embedded specimens, ie 32 carcinomas and 16 islet cell tumors, confirmed by operative and pathological examination, were studied by flow cytometric nuclear DNA content measurements. 10 specimens taken from the normal pancreatic tissue nearby the tumor transection margin and another 8 specimens in pancreatitis were compared as controls. The results demonstrated that the aneuploid rate and DNA index in pancreatic carcinoma was obviously higher than that of non-pancreatic tumor (P < 0.01). In the field of pancreatic carcinoma, the S-phase fraction was much higher in aneuploid specimens (P < 0.05). Then the nuclear DNA content was a relatively independent factor to evaluate the cancerous biological behavior. The surgical resectability of pancreatic tumors with diploid DNA was significantly higher than aneuploid ones (P < 0.05), and the later carried a shorter survival time proved by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (P < 0.05). Finally, the clinical significance of DNA content measurements in islet cell tumor was also discussed.