[Correlation of DNA index and BrdU labeling index with clinicopathological factors in colorectal carcinoma].

We studied the usefulness of the DNA index (DI) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling index (BLI) using fresh material from 71 patients with colorectal carcinoma. We compared the DI and BLI of the biopsy specimens with those of the resected specimens from 17 patients. These DI and BLI values were evaluated by flow cytometry. Neither DNA ploidy nor DI was correlated with other clinicopathologic factors. Intratumoral DI heterogeneity (DIH) was found in 33.8% (24/71) of tumors. Lymph node metastases were observed more often in cases with DIH than without DIH. The incidence of DIH was correlated with histologic stage. BLIs were higher in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma than in moderately and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. BLIs were not correlated with histologic stage. A significant correlation was observed between DI and BLI (r = 0.47, p less than 0.001). In cases without DIH, there was a good correlation between the DI values of the biopsy and resected specimens (r = 0.99, p less than 0.001). A significant correlation was also found between the BLI values of the two types of specimens (r = 0.69, p = 0.002). These results suggested that 4 biopsy specimens were adequate to estimate DI and BLI by FCM, and that DI and BLI values determined by FCM could facilitate the design of treatment regimens for preoperative patients.