DNA flow cytometry and morphometry as prognostic indicators in advanced ovarian cancer: a step forward in predicting the clinical outcome.

In 74 patients with advanced ovarian cancer, the value of DNA flow cytometry and morphometry was evaluated and compared with histological grading and clinical outcome. By means of both DNA flow cytometry and morphometry a clear distinction was found between a favorable group of 15 patients, with a median survival of more than 60 months, and the remaining patients, of whom the majority died during the same follow-up period. The levels of significance for DNA flow cytometry (P = 0.0002) and morphometry (P = 0.0001) with respect to survival of the favorable and unfavorable groups of patients were higher than for histological grading (P = 0.02). In a multivariate analysis it was demonstrated that morphometry proved to be the factor of most relevance for survival, although the effect of DNA flow cytometry was almost as good. Data such as presence of ascites, the size of the residual tumor mass, choice of chemotherapy, FIGO stage, and histological grade were not of additional prognostic relevance in this analysis. It is concluded that both morphometry and DNA flow cytometry are a step forward in identifying favorable and unfavorable groups of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. For the daily practice of management of ovarian cancer patients, morphometry may be an attractive support of visual grading.