吸烟对人精子单倍染色体的影响

目的　为了探讨吸烟与精子染色体畸变的关系。方法　采用异种体外授精技术制备人精子单倍染色体 ,对比分析吸烟对精子单倍染色体的致畸变效应。结果　轻度吸烟组 (2 0支 /d)和重度吸烟组 (4 0支 /d)结构畸变精子率分别为8 31%和 13 83% ,明显高于对照组 (4 0 5 % ) (P <0 .0 5 ,P <0 .0 1)。各组间结构畸变类型以无着丝粒断片为主。在重度吸烟组检出三射体、双着丝粒体等半稳定畸变。对照组、轻度吸烟组和重度吸烟组精子染色体断裂均数分别为 0 0 4 6 ,0 0 98,0 14 2 ,差异显著 (P <0 .0 5 ,P <0 .0 1) ,各组间性别比无明显差异。结论　吸烟可导致人精子单倍染色体畸变 ,吸烟量与精子染色体畸变率的升高成正相关。     

人参单体皂甙Rh_2增强顺铂对PC-3M致凋亡效应的研究

目的 :探讨人参单体皂甙Rh2 与顺铂 (DDP)联合应用对前列腺癌细胞株PC - 3M细胞凋亡的影响。方法 :应用MTT实验检测细胞生长抑制率 ,NP - 4 0快速分离片段化DNA电泳、流式细胞计量术观察PC - 3M细胞凋亡的变化。结果 :15 0mg/LRh2 与 0 4mg/LDDP联合给药 :①可使 0 4mg/LDDP的肿瘤细胞生长抑制率由2 5 0 %提高到 6 1 0 % ,增加了 1 4 4倍 ;②凋亡片段化DNA电泳检测显示较二者单独给药时更明显的DNA凋亡梯形电泳带 ;③可使 0 4mg/LDDP诱导PC - 3M细胞凋亡率从 0 3%提高到 5 2 2 % ,相当于其 10倍剂量 4 0mg/LDDP的诱导凋亡效应 ( 5 7 4 % ) ,明显高于Rh2 单独应用的凋亡率 13 6 % (P <0 0 1)。结论 :Rh2 能显著增强DDP对PC -3M前列腺癌细胞的致凋亡效应     

声带早期癌DNA分析及p53、Ki-67和bcl-X的表达

目的　以声带原位癌和早期微小浸润癌为主要研究对象 ,探讨声带从良性到恶性病变各阶段中DNA倍体及基因表达的变化 ,并结合其临床生物学行为 ,深入了解其实质。方法　对 18例声带肿瘤性病变做激光扫描细胞DNA分析并进行随访。对 6 2例声带病变 ,以声带原位癌 (CIS)和早期微小浸润癌 (EMIC)为主 ,与声带浸润性癌、声带息肉分别分为 3组 ,检测p5 3、Ki 6 7和bcl X的基因表达并作各组间对比。 结果　DNA倍体分析表明CIS、EMIC和浸润性癌不同 ,前两者几乎都是二倍体 ,而后者 90 %为异倍体 ;随访结果示CIS、EMIC病人无 1例死于肿瘤 ;还发现DNA二倍体和有DNA凋亡峰的肿瘤患者预后好 ,而肿瘤呈异倍体的患者预后差。免疫表型 :p5 3蛋白在声带肿瘤性病变中表达异常高 ;86 %的CIS、EMIC和 91%的浸润性癌都表达p5 3蛋白 ,阳性指数分别为 2 35和 2 2 6 ,同时此两组的Ki 6 7的阳性平均指数也分别为 2 9%和 2 7% ,与声带息肉差异有显著性 (P <0 0 1)。另一方面 ,bcl X的表达从良性病变到恶性病变呈递减态势 ,以浸润性癌中下降最明显 ,与息肉病变差异有显著性 (P =0 0 0 2 )。结论　声带良性病变、CIS、EMIC及浸润性癌在基因表达和DNA倍体上表现有所不同 ,提示它们各自之间有本质的差别 ,声带原位癌的表现界于良恶     

哮喘患者血浆类胰蛋白酶、血嗜酸粒细胞和气道高反应性相互关系

为探讨肥大细胞、嗜酸粒细胞和气道高反应性相互关系 ,本文检测了 36例哮喘患者 (哮喘组 )及 2 9例健康人 (对照组 )血浆中激活肥大细胞的特征性标志物类胰蛋白酶值、血嗜酸粒细胞 (EOS )值及乙酰甲胆碱的支气管激发试验 (PC2 0 )值 ,并对三者关系进行分析比较 ,结果 :(1)哮喘组血浆类胰蛋白酶增高率为 36 11% (13/ 36)和EOS增高率为 38 89% (14/ 36 ) ,明显高于对照组 (P分别 <0 0 0 5 ) ;(2 )哮喘组PC2 0 值 <8g/L者占 81 82 % (2 7/ 33) ,显著低于对照组 (P <0 0 0 5 ) ;(3)哮喘EOS增高组的PC2 0 值为 1 2 1g/L ,明显低于EOS正常组的 5 11g/L (P <0 0 1) ;(4 )哮喘类胰蛋白酶增高组中有 61 5 3% (8/13)EOS值增高 ,明显高于类胰蛋白酶正常组的 2 6 0 9% (6/ 2 3) (P <0 0 5 )。综上所述 ,哮喘患者呈气道高反应 ,血EOS和类胰蛋白酶值增高 ;EOS与气道高反应性有关 ;类胰蛋白酶与EOS增高有关 ,但未直接与气道高反应性相关     

恶性肿瘤患者PCC与DNA含量同步检测的临床意义

作者用熟前凝集染色体(PCC)技术和流式细胞术分别对肿瘤患者外周血细胞G_1-PCC断裂率和癌细胞DNA含量进行了检测.结果表明,肿瘤患者血细胞G_1-PCC断裂率明显升高(P<0.01);患者癌细胞DNA异倍体率为63.2%,其中食管癌为63.0%,宫颈癌为63.3%:S期细胞比率(SPF)明显升高(P<0.01):患者G_1-PCC断裂率随癌细胞DNA指数(DI)增高而增加(r=0.846,r>r_(0.01).异倍体肿瘤患者G_1-PCC断裂率明显高于二倍体患者(P<0.01).随病理组织学分级的增高,G_1-PCC断裂率、癌细胞异倍体检出率和DI值均逐渐升高.因此,对患者血细胞G_1-PCC断裂率和DNA含量同步检测,用于癌患者肿瘤恶性度和预后估计是有一定意义的.     

胃癌细胞凋亡与增殖的观察

目的 :探讨胃癌细胞凋亡与增殖的临床病理意义。方法 :采用切口末端标记法 (TUNEL)、电镜观察显示凋亡细胞 ,免疫组化S P法显示PCNA及 p5 3蛋白表达 ,利用图像系统分析癌细胞DNA倍体。 结果 :观察 60例胃癌细胞凋亡的TUNEL染色及超微结构形态 ;发现高分化型癌凋亡指数 (ApoptosisIndex ,AI)、AI/PI(PCNAIndel,PI)均高于低分化型癌 (P <0 0 5 ) ,而PI值、DNA >5C值则相反 ,高分化型低于低分化型癌 (P <0 0 5 ) ;癌侵及黏膜层、肌层、浆膜层时AI、AI/PI值逐层递减 ,而PI值、DNA >5C值则逐层递增 (P <0 0 5 ) ,肿瘤直径 <3cm、3～ 5cm、>5cm 3组AI、AI/PI值随肿瘤增大而递减 (P <0 0 1) ,其PI值、DNA >5C值则随肿瘤增大而递增 (P <0 0 5 )、淋巴结阳性组PI值较阴性组高 (P <0 0 5 ) ,p5 3阴性组较p5 3阳性组AI值高 (P <0 0 5 )。结论 :(1)分化高、体积小的早期及早期胃癌其AI值较高 ,分化低、体积大的晚期胃癌AI值较低 ,PI值增高 ;AI与PI呈负相关 ;PI值与淋巴结转移有关。显示癌瘤进展以细胞增殖为主而凋亡受抑。 (2 )p5 3基因突变可显著降低癌细胞凋亡     

非霍奇金淋巴瘤与p53蛋白表达的关系

目的 :探讨非霍奇金淋巴瘤 (NHL)与 p5 3蛋白表达的关系。 方法 :用免疫组化S P法检测 10 2例 (低度恶性 2 3例 ,中度恶性 36例 ,高度恶性 4 3例 )NHLp5 3蛋白表达 ,根据 p5 3蛋白阳性细胞百分率将其表达水平分为 4级 :0级 (阴性 ) ,1级 (1%～ 2 5 % ) ,2级 (2 6 %～ 5 0 % ) ,3级 (>5 0 % )。结果 :低度恶性组 2 0 / 2 3(87% )p5 3表达为 0级 ,中度恶性组 31/ 36 (86 1% )表达为 1级 ,高度恶性组 33/ 4 3(76 7% )表达为 2～ 3级。 2 5例随访 7～ 6 8个月 ,p5 30～ 1级NHL完全缓解率 (CRR ,11/ 14 )高于p5 32～ 3级NHLCRR (1/ 11,P <0 0 1) ,前者生存率 (13/ 14 )高于后者 (3/ 11,P <0 0 1)。NHLp5 3蛋白表达水平与其恶性度密切相关 (P <0 0 1)。结论 :p5 3蛋白表达阳性细胞百分率是判断NHL恶性度、疗效及预后较可靠的参数。肿瘤性p5 3蛋白表达检测对中高度恶性NHL的诊断有参考价值     

山东省枣庄市乙型病毒性肝炎流行病学调查

目的　了解枣庄市人群中乙型肝炎的流行特征。方法　于 2 0 0 0年采用随机分层抽样 ,调查 312户家庭的 96 3人 ,以RIA法检测HBsAg、抗 HBs和抗 HBc。结果　HBsAg、抗 HBs、抗 HBc和HBV标化流行率分别为 7.0 8%、37.5 6 %、4 1.35 %和 4 4 .37%。HBsAg流行率男性高于女性 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,城区高于农村 (P <0 .0 1) ,在不同年龄及职业人群中差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。抗 HBs、抗 HBc和HBV感染率有随年龄增长而递增的趋势 (P <0 .0 1)。HBV总感染率男性高于女性 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,农村高于城市 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　枣庄市人群HBV感染率较高 ,应积极采取预防和控制措施 ,减少发病。     

SARS病人TNFα、IFN和IL-6含量变化及其意义

目的 :动态监测SARS病人肿瘤坏死因子α(TNFα)、干扰素α(IFNα)、干扰素γ(IFNγ)和白细胞介素 6(IL 6)含量变化 ,并探讨其意义。方法 :采用酶联免疫吸附法定量检测早期、恢复期以及出院后SARS随访者 ,并选择在SARS防治一线工作但未感染的健康医护人员和普通健康体检者与之对照分析。结果 :SARS早期组TNFα均值高于其他各组 (P <0 .0 1) ;恢复期组显著高于随访组、一线对照组和健康对照组 (P <0 .0 1)。SARS早期组血清IFN α均值显著高于其他各组 (P <0 .0 0 1) ;恢复期组与一线对照组比较有统计学差异 (P<0 .0 5 )。SARS早期组血清IFN γ均值显著高于其他各组 (P <0 .0 1) ;恢复期组、随访组与一线对照组比较均有统计学意义 (P <0 .0 1)。SARS早期组IL 6显著高于其他各组 (P <0 .0 1) ;随访组与一线对照组和健康对照组间均值比较均有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :SARS的发病机制中病理损伤与细胞因子IFN、TNFα和IL 6有关 ,IFN具有抗病毒作用     

解脲支原体感染对精液主要参数和精子顶体酶活性的影响

目的　研究解脲支原体对精液主要参数和精子顶体酶活性的影响。方法　分光光度比色法测定精子顶体酶活性 ,培养法检测精液UU感染。结果　 4 0 6 1例不育就诊者UU阳性率 4 5 19%。UU阳性组精子密度、精子活率、a ,b活力精子率均明显低于相应的UU阴性组 (P <0 0 0 1,P <0 0 5 ,P <0 0 1)。UU阳性组畸形精子率明显高于UU阴性组 (P <0 0 5 )。UU阳性组与阴性组顶体酶活性比较差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 )。结论　解脲支原体对精液主要参数有影响 ,而对精子顶体酶活性没有影响。     

Flow cytometric DNA analysis of benign hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands: significant difference in the S phase fraction and proliferative index between adenomas and hyperplasias

AIMS: Flow cytometric DNA analysis was performed to measure the DNA content of benign parathyroid tumours in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: DNA analysis of paraffin-embedded parathyroid samples was performed on 51 parathyroid glands from 29 patients after parathyroidectomy. Histopathology showed parathyroid adenoma in 25 cases and hyperplasia in four patients. DNA ploidy status, DNA index (DI), percentage of cells in S phase and proliferative index (PI) were determined. RESULTS: Normal cells from normal glands were all diploid. DNA cytometry showed 12 aneuploid and 13 diploid adenomas. There were 12 diploid and four aneuploid hyperplastic glands. Incidence of aneuploid DNA histograms did not show a statistically significant difference between adenomas and hyperplasias (P=0.216). Mean S phase fraction was 3.45% in adenomas and 1.53% in hyperplasias (P= 0.015). Mean PI was 6.48% in adenomas and 2.78% in hyperplastic parathyroid glands. This difference was statistically significant (P=0.006). Diploid cases had a mean PI of 4.78% and aneuploid glands a mean PI of 7.7% (P=0.08). Aneuploid DNA content did not reveal statistically significant correlation with age, gender, pre-operative Ca, alkaline phosphatase, i-PTH levels, and tumour size. The mean S phase fraction and PI were 2.25% and 4.78% in diploid glands, and 4.5% and 7.7% in aneuploid cases. CONCLUSION: Aneuploid DNA content may be present in benign parathyroid diseases, but not in normal parathyroid glands. Aneuploid DNA histograms and higher PI occur more often in adenomas compared with hyperplasias, but the nuclear DNA analysis is unable to make a distinction between adenomas and hyperplasias.     

Ovarian carcinoma cells in effusions show increased S-phase fraction compared to corresponding primary tumors

The objective of this study was to analyze large-scale genomic patterns during disease progression from primary tumor to effusion in ovarian carcinoma, and to study the association between DNA ploidy parameters in effusions, proliferation/survival markers, and clinicopathologic characteristics. DNA ploidy status, DNA index (DI), and S-phase fraction (SPF) were compared in 22 matched primary carcinomas (all prechemotherapy specimens) and effusions (14 prechemotherapy and 8 postchemotherapy specimens) using image analysis. The association between these parameters and previously studied cell survival/proliferation biomarkers, previous administration of chemotherapy, chemotherapy response and survival was analyzed in a larger series of 54 effusions. The majority of specimens were aneuploid irrespective of anatomic site, with no significant differences in DI. SPF was significantly higher in effusions compared to matched primary tumors (P = 0.007 for all 22 pairs, P = 0.011 for 14 matched prechemotherapy specimens). Higher SPF was related to higher Ki-67 score (P = 0.045), and both SPF and DI were directly associated with higher level of Survivin (P < 0.001 for both). DI and SPF in effusions showed no association with histological grade, FIGO stage, residual disease volume, previous chemotherapy, response to chemotherapy at primary disease, recurrence or survival. Ovarian carcinoma cells in effusions have increased proliferation compared to corresponding primary tumors, as evidence of disease progression. DNA ploidy parameters in cancer cells in effusions are unaltered by chemotherapy and appear to be unrelated to chemotherapy response and to survival, suggesting that large-scale genomic patterns at this anatomic site are not useful in segregating patients into prognostic groups.     

The flow-cytometric analysis of DNA content and S-phase fraction (SPF) of human breast cancer

The DNA ploidy of breast cancer tissue from paraffin blocks was measured by flow cytometry in 122 patients. In this material there was a difference in lymph node involvement and in the presence of distant metastases between diploid and aneuploid tumors. Diploid tumors were smaller than aneuploid tumors. Aneuploid tumors were more common in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women. Near tetraploid tumors were found in older patients rather than tumors with other ploidy patterns. The ploidy pattern was not associated with survival during the mean follow-up of 4.1 years. We specially studied the S-phase fraction (SPF) which was distinctly higher in aneuploid tumors than in diploid tumors. Also near tetraploid, hypertetraploid and multiploid tumors showed higher SPF than diploid tumors. The median of SPF in our material was 8.5%. Positive axillary lymph nodes were found in 32% of the patients who had tumors with an SPF below the median and in 46% of those with tumors above the median (SPF greater than 8.5%). The difference, however, was not statistically significant. In our material the SPF of the tumor did not show a significant association with survival. However, longer follow up time is needed for firm conclusions on the predictive value of cell DNA on survival.     

The value of S-phase and DNA ploidy analysis as prognostic markers for node-negative breast cancer in the Australian setting.

This study aimed to determine the prognostic significance of DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) measurements in our laboratory for patients with node-negative breast cancer. Frozen tumors from axillary node-negative breast cancer patients (n = 50) treated at Westmead Hospital, NSW, between 1988 and 1991 were analysed by flow cytometry. The median duration of follow-up for all patients was 8.4 years. Forty-six specimens provided evaluable DNA histograms with 43% (n = 20) diploid and 56% (n = 26) aneuploid tumors identified. Comparisons of DNA ploidy status and SPF were made with traditional prognostic variables, which included age, menopausal status, tumor size, histologic grade and hormone receptor status. Our results showed that there was no significant difference in disease-free or overall survival between patients with diploid and aneuploid tumors. Histologic grade 3 tumors were more likely to be aneuploid and had higher SPF than grade 1 or 2 tumors. Patients with grade 3 tumors and a high SPF were four times more likely to relapse than the rest of the population. These results indicate that DNA flow cytometric analysis in our laboratory provides additional prognostic data that could be utilised alongside traditional clinical and histopathologic indicators for predicting outcome for patients.     

Short-term significance of DNA ploidy and cell proliferation in breast carcinoma: a multivariate analysis of prognostic markers in a series of 308 patients

AIM: To determine the importance of tumour DNA ploidy and cell proliferation, as measured by the S phase fraction (SPF), in relation to other established clinicopathological indicators of prognosis in breast cancer. METHODS: A prospective study of 308 patients. Tumours were staged following the TNM system criteria and were classified according to the histological type and grade. DNA flow cytometry was performed on fresh/frozen samples stained with propidium iodide. Hormone receptors were analyzed by immunocytochemistry. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used for statistical evaluation of the prognostic factors. RESULTS: Median follow up time was 39.6 months (range 3 to 84). A DNA diploid pattern was found in 134 tumours (43.5%) and aneuploid in 174 (56.5%). Median SPF value was 6.1% (range 1% to 27.8%). DNA ploidy and SPF were strongly correlated (p < 0.001), and both were related to histological type (p < 0.001), grade of differentiation (p < 0.001), tumour size (p = 0.006 and p = 0.002), and hormone receptor activity (p < 0.001). DNA ploidy was also related to node status (p = 0.022), but SPF was not. In univariate analysis, there were significant correlations between disease-free survival and age, histological grade, tumour size, node status, DNA ploidy, SPF, and hormone receptor activity; age, tumour size, node status, DNA ploidy, and hormone receptors were predictors of overall survival. In multivariate analysis, only node status (p = 0.001) and DNA ploidy (p = 0.006) retained independent prognostic significance in relation with overall survival, while node status (p < 0.001) and SPF (p < 0.001) were predictors of disease-free survival. DNA ploidy and SPF continued to predict disease-free and overall survival in lymph node positive (pN1) patients but not in the lymph node negative (pN0) group. CONCLUSIONS: DNA ploidy and SPF are strongly intercorrelated and have independent prognostic value for predicting the short term clinical outcome of breast carcinoma patients.     

Typical and atypical bronchopulmonary carcinoids. A clinicopathologic and flow cytometric study

The clinicopathologic and flow cytometric characteristics of 47 bronchopulmonary carcinoids were assessed, relative to patient survival. Aneuploidy was associated more often with tumor size of greater than or equal to 3.0 cm (P less than 0.004) and lymph node (P less than 0.013) or vascular involvement (P less than 0.004). Also, an aneuploid DNA content was seen significantly more often in histologically atypical (79%) than in typical carcinoid neoplasms (18%) (P less than 0.0001). Cox proportional hazard model analysis revealed that the histologic category (typical vs. atypical) and ploidy pattern were important prognostic indicators. Size of the primary tumor and the presence of vascular involvement were also significant predictors of outcome. Histologically atypical carcinoids with diploid DNA content pursued a less aggressive course than did their aneuploid counterparts.     

胃癌DNA倍体分析及其TIMP-2和E-cadherin在胃癌中的表达

目的：研究胃癌中DNA倍体及其TIMP-2和E-cadherin的表达，探索胃癌侵袭转移的分子基础和可能机制。 方法:采用免疫组化技术检测E-cadherin、TIMP-2在99例胃癌，16例癌周正常黏膜，16例胃癌远处转移和25例胃癌转移阳性的淋巴结中表达情况；选取其中47例胃癌，6例癌周正常黏膜及4例胃癌远处转移标本采用流式细胞术检测DNA倍体及S期分数。 结果:TIMP-2表达与Borrmann’s 分型、淋巴结转移和浸润深度有关；E-cadherin表达与肿瘤细胞分化、Lauren’s 分型、Borrmann’s 分型、淋巴结转移和浸润深度有关。DNA异倍体率与分化和淋巴结转移有关，S期分数（SPF）与肿瘤大小、分化及淋巴结转移有关。而且在癌与癌周非癌黏膜之间E-cadherin表达、DNA异倍体率和S期分数的差别具有统计学意义；TIMP-2与 E-cadherin之间无相关性；E-cadherin表达与DNA倍体及S期分数呈正相关。 结论:随着肿瘤的演进和异质化，TIMP-2和E-cadherin 的异常表达及DNA异倍体和高S期分数也相应逐渐增加，提示它们在胃癌演进过程中起着关键作用，可以作为胃癌生物学行为的客观标志物。而且，这几种因素间的相互作用更加速了肿瘤演进过程。     

Flow cytometric S-phase fraction as a complementary biological parameter for the cytological grading of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a technique that can overcome tissue-sampling disaggregation problems related to DNA flow cytometry analysis. The aim of this study, with long-term follow-up (median, 72 mo), was to investigate the prognostic value of DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and additionally, the relevance of SPF in the grading of NHLs, using FNAC. The series comprised 76 patients with NHL (32 indolent and 44 aggressive tumors, including 14 Burkitt lymphomas) and 30 patients with reactive lymph node enlargement used as a control group. DNA flow cytometry was performed on fresh samples obtained by FNAC. NHL grading was done according to the updated Kiel classification. The 5-yr overall survival of patients with NHL was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. All samples of the control group and 81.6% of the NHLs showed a DNA diploid pattern. Fourteen cases (18.4%) were DNA aneuploid with bimodal distribution: slight hyperdiploidy and near-tetraploidy. Despite the higher incidence of aneuploidy in aggressive than in indolent tumors (22.7% vs. 12.5%), no correlation between DNA ploidy and NHL grading was observed. In contrast, SPF revealed a strong correlation with grading (P=0.0001). The mean SPF values varied from 6.5% in indolent NHLs, to 20.4% in aggressive not-otherwise-specified (NOS) NHLs, and to 35.3% in Burkitt lymphomas. Nearly all aggressive NHLs had an SPF >15%, while the vast majority of indolent NHLs showed an SPF <10%. The mean SPF value in the reactive node group was 6.6%. NHL grading significantly was correlated to survival (P=0.004) only if the Burkitt lymphomas, which showed the best prognosis, were analyzed as an independent group. There was a trend that did not reach statistical significance (P=0.072) for a worse clinical outcome of patients with aneuploid tumors. When mean SPF values were used as cutoff points to divide both indolent NHLs and aggressive NOS NHLs into two proliferative subgroups, no differences in relation to survival were found (P=0.763 and P=0.994, respectively). Also, no proliferative difference was verified between indolent NHLs and the reactive lymph node group (P=0.223). These results show that flow cytometric SPF is a valuable complementary parameter for grading NHLs on FNAC samples, but it appears to give no additional prognostic information on subset analyses.     

Intra-tumor DNA ploidy distribution pattern and its relation to histologic type in gastric carcinoma.

The pattern of intra-tumor DNA ploidy distribution was analyzed in stepwise sections in 64 cases of surgically resected gastric carcinoma. Five varying patterns were identified: Type A comprised only diploidy in all stepwise sections, Type B comprised only aneuploidy with the same DNA Index(DI), Type C comprised diploidy in the great majority of sections with aneuploidy in some parts, Type D comprised aneuploidy in the great majority of sections with diploidy in some parts and Type E comprised only aneuploidy, but with varying DI. These 5 patterns could be grouped into 2 categories; predominantly diploid (Types A and C) and predominantly aneuploid (Types B, D and E). The former category included 34 cases (12 differentiated carcinomas) while the latter included 30 cases (22 differentiated carcinomas). Thus, a statistically significant correlation was detected between the histologic type and the intra-tumor DNA ploidy distribution pattern; in the majority of cases, differentiated carcinoma exhibited predominantly aneuploidy, while undifferentiated carcinoma exhibited predominantly diploidy (p less than 0.01). This tendency was the same for all depths of invasion, except for submucosal carcinomas which exhibited predominantly diploidy.