Flow cytometry in prostatic adenocarcinoma

Summary We have examined the reproducibility of DNA histograms produced by flow cytometry in two strains of the Dunning R3327 rat prostatic tumor model, determining the extent of variability between tumors in the same animal, from animal to animal within the same strain and from strain to strain. We have also investigated the ability of flow cytometry to monitor changes in DNA histograms produced by tumor age and hormonal manipulation. We have found that there is a considerable difference in aneuploidy in tumors from the two strains, and also much variability in its extent within each strain. While orchiectomy (ORCH) tended to decrease the extent of aneuploidy, this could only be reliably detected if each tumor acted as its own control, with sampling being done pre- and post-ORCH.