Flow cytometry in assessing the clinical aggressiveness of genito-urinary neoplasms

Summary Flow cytometry allows the cellular DNA content of tumors to be measured in a large number of cells with a high degree of accuracy. In addition to the degree of ploidy, reflecting the total number of chromosomes or the stem line of the tumor, the proportions of cells in the various parts of the cell cycle can be determined. The high speed of the method fulfils one prerequisite for application in clinical use. This article reviews the accumulated experience of flow cytometry on cell material of tumors of the genito-urinary tract demonstrating that carcinomas of the bladder, the prostate, and renal cell carcinomas can be further subdivided according to ploidy characteristics and proportions of s-phase cells. Follow-up shows the prognostic significances of these tumor properties. Flow cytometry can therefore be expected to become a valuable adjunct to clinical staging and morphologic grading in the assessment of the malignancy potential of genito-urinary neoplasms.Supported by the Stockholm Cancer Society