| Abstract: | We compared values of the DNA Index (DI) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) labeling index (BULI) of biopsy specimens with those of resected specimens from 12 patients with colorectal cancer, to evaluate the cell cycle by flow cytometry (FCM). From each patient, 4 biopsy specimens were endoscopically removed. Also, small pieces of tissue, 0.5 cm in diameter, were taken from 4 different sites of the resected tumor. Both kinds of specimens were labeled in vitro with BrdUrd. Their DI and BULI values were evaluated from the DNA/BrdUrd bivariate scatter diagram by FCM. It was found that the coefficients of variation (CVs) for endoscopic biopsy specimens were siginificantly lower than those for resected specimens, 4.2 ± 1.3 (Mean ± S. D.) and 5.4 ± 1. 7, respectively. In 8 cases without intratumoral DI heterogeneity, there was a good correlation in the values of DI between the biopsy and resected specimens (r = 0.99, p < 0.01). A significant correlation was also found in the BULI values between the two types of specimens (r = 0.73, p < 0.01). These results suggested that 4 biopsy specimens were enough to estimate DI and BULI by FCM and that DI and BULI values determined by flow cytometry could be useful for decision-making about the therapeutic modality for preoperative patients. |
