[Clinical significance of DNA ploidy heterogeneity in early gastric cancers].

To evaluate the clinical significance of DNA ploidy heterogeneity (DH), four or more fresh tissue specimens were obtained from a tumor in 68 resected early gastric cancers. DNA content was measured by flow cytometry and the presence of DH was prospectively investigated. The incidence of DH correlated to invasion depth (m < sm), lymph vessel invasion (negative < positive) and tumor size (10 mm or less in diameter < more than 10). When the criteria of indication for minimum surgery were determined as the intramucosal cancer without n, ly and v factor, 85% of contraindication cases demonstrated DH. These results indicate that DH is a useful marker of tumor progression in early gastric cancer and will be an aid for determining indications for minimum resection.