Clinicopathological evaluation of the relationship between DNA ploidy and prognosis in mucus-producing adenocarcinoma of the lung

Nuclear DNA ploidy levels were examined in 47 cases of mucus-producing adenocarcinoma of the lung resected during the last 19 years, and were compared in relation to the prognoses of these patients. Twenty-five cases of goblet cell type adenocarcinoma, were divided into 16 cases (64%) with DNA diploidy and 9 cases (36%) with DNA aneuploidy patterns. Twenty-two cases of bronchial gland cell type adenocarcinoma were classified into 3 cases (14%) of DNA diploidy and 19 cases (86%) of DNA aneuploidy. In these two groups, there were remarkable differences in the distribution of DNA ploidy level even in the same group of mucusproducing tumors of the lung. In goblet cell type adenocarcinoma, the 5-year survival rates in groups with DNA diploidy and DNA aneuploidy were 71.4% and 62. 5%, respectively. In bronchial gland cell type adenocarcinoma, the 5-year survival rates in groups with DNA diploidy and DNA aneuploidy were 33.4% and 48.3%, respectively. These results indicate that there is no significant difference between DNA ploidy levels in terms of the prognosis of mucusproducing adenocarcinoma. Nevertheless, in the diffuse type of goblet cell type adenocarcinoma, cases with DNA aneuploidy showed a poorer prognosis than did those with DNA diploidy.