DNA pattern and cytological findings in fine-needle aspirates of untreated prostatic tumors. A flow-cytofluorometric study

The cellular DNA content in fine‐needle prostatic aspirates from 500 untreated patients was determined by flow cytofluorometry. According to the DNA patterns diploid, tetraploid, and non‐tetraploid aneuploid cases were identified. In 301 cytologically benign cases more than 90% showed diploid DNA patterns. Among 166 carcinomas the incidence of aneuploid DNA values increased with the degree of anaplasia, ie, 44% in well‐differentiated, 78% in moderately differentiated, and 97% in poorly differentiated tumors. In aneuploid cases of well‐differentiated carcinomas almost exclusively tetraploid DNA patterns were observed, while in poorly differentiated carcinomas about 80% showed non‐tetraploid aneuploid DNA distributions. Among aneuploid cases of moderately differentiated carcinomas 2/3 were tetraploid and 1/3 non‐tetraploid aneuploid. Morphologically similar tumors may thus be separated by the DNA profiles. The biological significance of these results must be further evaluated by clinical follow‐up of the patients.