[DNA-cytofluorometric, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of pancreatoduodenal cancers].

To study the cell characteristics of relatively small pancreatoduodenal cancers (less than 4 cm in the greatest dimension in histopathological examination), we analyzed the relation between the cell kinetics, and histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. Tumors were classified into t1 (0-2 cm in its greatest dimension) and t2 (2-4 cm). We analyzed DNA contents of five tumors of t1 and twelve of t2 by cytofluorometry. Histopathological and immunohistochemical (CA19-9 and CEA) examinations were also carried out. Nuclear DNA content histograms of the tumors in the t1 group showed all diploid pattern, while those in the t2 group exhibited 4 diploid, 7 euploid polyploid and 1 aneuploid patterns. Invasions to the lymphatic (ly), vein (v) and nerve (pn) were found in five cases of diploid tumors (3 of t1 and 2 of t2) and all (8 in t2) of non-diploid tumors. A medullary pattern of tumor growth was only noted in three tumors of t1. This pattern was not found in t2 (4 diploid, 8 non-diploid). These results suggest that the cellular DNA content increased in association with the tumor growth in size. In the histopathological findings, both the invasions (ly, v, pn) and fibrosis of the stroma more often appeared as the tumor size and polyploid and aneuploid cells increased. However, other histopathological findings and the immunohistochemical examination for CA19-9 and CEA had no relation to the tumor growth and the DNA ploidy pattern.