DNA index by image analysis in advanced endometrial carcinoma

Background Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynecologic malignancy in developed countries, affecting an estimated 140,000 women. More than 32,000 women will be diagnosed with endometrial cancer this year in the United States, and approximately 6,000 will die from this disease. Methods Twenty consecutive patients, surgically treated, with advanced endometrial cancer, were evaluated for their DNA index (DI), time to recurrence, peritoneal cytology, depth of invasion, lymphovascular space invasion, as well as FIGO stage, grade, and histology. DI was determined using image analysis. Results Ten of the 20 patients had recurrence of their disease within the 3‐year observation period of the study. A DI of ≥ 1.2 strongly predicted recurrence of disease (P = 0.002). Increasing histologic grade and an increasing DI were related (P = 0.01). Conclusion Independent of other prognostic indicators, including lymphovascular space invasion, depth of invasion, and histologic type, a tumor with a DI of ≥ 1.2, had a significantly increased chance of recurring within the 3‐year observation period. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.