Cytophotometric DNA analysis of mucosal and submucosal carcinoma of the esophagus.

Cell nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content was microspectrophotometrically determined in 35 cases of mucosal and submucosal carcinoma of the esophagus. DNA distribution pattern was classified into types I, II, III, and IV, according to the degree of dispersion on the DNA histogram, in the order of wider distribution. Patients with types I and II (relatively regular in DNA distribution) had an uneventful postoperative course and no recurrence, whereas 3 of 15 (20%), and 5 of 9 (55.6%) with type III and type IV, respectively (widely scattered DNA distribution), died following a recurrence. Cytophotometric DNA analysis of the cancer cells reflected well the outcome in patients with esophageal carcinoma. These results suggest the potential usefulness of cytophotometric DNA analysis for assessing the prognosis, even in the early stage of esophageal carcinoma.