Nuclear DNA and nuclear protein content of tumor cell in adenocarcinoma of the lung.

We measured DNA and protein contents of nuclei in resected tumors from 17 cases (six female and 11 male) of pulmonary primary adenocarcinoma. The relationship between the contents of nuclear DNA and protein on tumoral behavior was evaluated. We found that the content of nuclear DNA and protein was significantly higher in advanced stages than in early stages in patients with adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05). We also found the nuclear protein, DNA contents and the ratio of nuclear protein to DNA significantly higher in patients under the average age of 61 than in the patients over 61 (P < 0.05). Tumor size was found to be greater in Stage III and IV cases than Stage I cases (P < 0.05). In conclusion, it has been postulated that evaluation of malignant disease and its behavior might be simplified by measuring nuclear DNA and the protein contents of tumors, contributing to disease control.