DNA value and prognosis of renal tumors. Differences between childhood and adult tumors.

In an attempt to reveal characteristic DNA ploidy patterns in primary renal tumors in children and adults, the nuclear DNA contents of 71 tumors were investigated. Nuclear DNA contents were measured by epifluorescence microscopy. The ploidy patterns of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and Wilm's tumors (WTs) were different. In RCCs there was no predominant DNA value, and aneuploidy indicated a poorer prognosis than diploidy. In contrast, a diploid pattern was predominant in WTs regardless of the prognosis. These results appear to reflect differences between adults and children in the mechanisms of tumorigenesis of renal tumors.