DNA aneuploidy and cell proliferation in relation to histology and prognosis in patients with Hodgkin's disease.

BACKGROUND

Aneuploidy and S-phase fraction are well recognized prognostic features of solid tumors and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, only limited data on Hodgkin's disease are available.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this study flow cytometric data on ploidy status and S-phase fraction are analyzed in relation to clinical characteristics and prognosis in 137 patients with Hodgkin's disease.

RESULTS

The presence of DNA aneuploidy was not associated with other clinical characteristics. When the histologic subtypes were clustered according to a higher number of Reed-Sternberg/Hodgkin cells into two classes (LP + NSI and the histologic NSII + MC + LD), it appeared that cases with an SPF > or = 7.5% had the histologic subtypes NSII + MC + LD significantly more frequently than those with an SPF < 7.5% (P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in complete remission rates, relapse-free or overall survivals between the patients with diploid and those with aneuploid lymph nodes. The complete remission rate for patients with and SPF < 7.5% was higher than for those with an SPF > or = 7.5%, 95% (56/59) and 76% (50/66), respectively (P = 0.006). The 10-year survival rate was 78% for patients with an SPF < 7.5% and 48% for those with an SPF > or = 7.5% (P = 0.04). However, by multivariate analysis only the ESR, age and clinical stage proved to be of independent prognostic importance.

CONCLUSION

DNA aneuploidy did not correlate with known prognostic factors or survival, but the SPF might turn out to be an indicator of patients who will have less favourable outcomes.