DNA ploidy correlates with grade, proliferation and clinical outcome but not with presence of human oncogenic HPVs or expression of Bcl-2 in preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the uterine cervix.

The aim of this study was to analyse whether DNA ploidy correlates with proliferative activity as measured by PCNA expression, presence of oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs), histological grade, expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and clinical outcome in a cohort of 57 preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the uterine cervix. The samples were analysed using computer image cytomorphometry of Feulgen stained sections, standard indirect immunohistochemistry and hybridisation of HPV DNA in situ. The ploidy data were found to be significantly different between low/high grade preneoplasia and invasive carcinoma. Significant positive relationships were also found between DNA content and proliferation of lesions, and DNA content and clinical behavior of the lesions. Nevertheless, no relationship between DNA ploidy and HPV/Bcl-2 status was established.