Abstract
The nuclear DNA content (NDA ploidy) level was determined in a series of 83 human brain metastases, for which 35 complete clinical follow-ups were available. The DNA ploidy level determination was carried out by means of DNA histogram types. The results show that certain brain metastases were diploid, while others exhibited aneuploidy levels ranging from low to very high. The present study also shows that a significant proportion, i.e. 18%, of the 83 brain metastases, exhibited very high levels of aneuploidy, i.e. hypertetraploidy, hyperpentaploidy and octoploidy. We had previously observed that this feature appeared only rarely, i.e. in less than 2% of primary nervous tumours. Furthermore, the present study shows that DNA ploidy level in brain metastases is related significantly (P<0.001) to patient survival. Indeed, while 9/13 (69%) patients with diploid brain metastases survived longer than 9 months, none (0%) of the 22 patients with aneuploid brain metastases survived longer than the 9 months following the diagnosis of their brain metastases.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blount PL, Galipeau PC, Sanchez CA, Neshat K, Levine DS, Yin J, Suzuki H, Abraham JM, Meltzer SJ, Reid BJ (1994) 17p allelic losses in diploid cells of patients with Barrett's esophagus who develop aneuploidy. Cancer Res 54:2292–2295
Cairncross JG, Posner JB (1983) The management of brain metastases. Cancer Treat Res 12:341–377
Carder P, Wyllie AH, Purdie CA, Morris RG, White S, Piris J, Bird CC (1993) Stabilised p53 facilitates aneuploid clonal divergence in colorectal cancer. Oncogene 8:1397–1401
Dangou JM, Salmon I, Torres LFB, Budel V, Demba Ndiaye P, Pasteels JL, Verhest A, Kiss R (1993) DNA histogram typing in retinoblastomas and neuroblastomas. Mod Pathol 6: 408–413
Engenhart R, Kimmig BN, Hover KH, Wowra B, Romahn J, Lorenz WJ, van Kaick G, Wannenmacher M (1993) Long-term follow-up for brain metastases treated by percutaneous stereotactic single high-dose irradiation. Cancer 71: 1353–1361
Eyfjörd JE, Thorlacius S, Steinarsdottir M, Valgardsdottir R, Ogmundsdottir HM, Anamthawat-Jonsson K (1995) p53 abnormalities and genomic instability in primary human breast carcinomas. Cancer Res 55:646–651
Harvey M, Sands AT, Weiss RS, Hegi ME, Wiseman RW, Pantazis P, Giovanella BC, Tainsky MA, Bradley A, Donehower LA (1993) In vitro growth characteristics of embryo fibroblasts isolated from p53-deficient mice. Oncogene 8:2457–2467
Jannot MC, Kruczynski A, Limouzy A, Dangou JM, Selves J, Delsol G, Martinez J, Kiss R (1993) Spontaneous evolution of cytoplasmic lectin binding and nuclear size and DNA content in human colorectal cancers grafted onto nude mice. Lab Invest 68:446–455
Kiss R, Gasperin P, Verhest A, Pasteels JL (1992) Modification of the tumor ploidy level by the choice of the tissue taken as diploid reference in digital cell image analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei. Mod Pathol 5:655–660
Kiss R, Salmon I, Camby I, Gras S, Pasteels JL (1993) Characterization of factors in routine laboratory protocols which significantly influence the Feulgen reaction. J Histochem Cytochem 41: 935–945
Mehta MP, Rozental JM, Levin AB, Mackie TR, Kubsad SS, Gehring MA, Kinsella TJ (1992) Defining the role of radiosurgery in the management of brain metastases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 24:619–625
Offerhaus GJA, De Feyter EP, Cornelisse CJ, Tersmette KWF, Floyd J, Kern SE, Vogelstein B, Hamilton SR (1992) The relationship of DNA aneuploidy to molecular genetic alterations in colorectal carcinoma. Gastroenterology 102:1612–1619
Patchell RA, Tibbs PA, Walsh JW, Dempsey RJ, Maruyama Y, Kryscio RJ, Markesbery WR, MacDonald JS, Young B (1990) A randomized trial of surgery in the treatment of single metastases to the brain. N Engl J Med 322:494–500
Posner JB (1977) Management of central nervous system metastases. Semin Oncol 4:81–91
Salmon I, Kiss R (1993) Relationship between proliferative activity and ploidy level in a series of 530 human brain tumors including astrocytomas, meningiomas, schwannomas, and metastases. Hum Pathol 24:329–335
Salmon I, Kiss R, Dewitte O, Gras T, Pasteels JL, Brotchi J, Flament-Durand J (1992a) Relationship between histopathological grading and DNA ploidy as opposed to survival in 206 astrocytic tumors. Cancer: 70:538–546
Salmon I, Kiss R, Segers V, Carroyer JM, Levivier M, Pasteels JL, Brotchi J, Flament-Durand J (1992b) Characterization of nuclear size, ploidy, DNA histogram type, and proliferation index in 79 nerve sheath tumors. Anticancer Res 12:2277–2284
Salmon I, Gasperin P, Remmelink M, Rahier I, Rocmans P, Pasteels JL, Heimann R, Kiss R (1993a) Ploidy level and proliferative activity measurements in a series of 407 thyroid tumors or other pathological conditions. Hum Pathol 24:912–920
Salmon I, Kiss R, Levivier M, Remmelink M, Pasteels JL, Brotchi J, Flament-Durand J (1993b) Characterization of the nuclear DNA content, the proliferation index and the nuclear size in a series of 181 meningiomas, including benign primary, recurrent, and malignant tumors. Am J Surg Pathol 17:239–247
Salmon I, Kruczynski A, Camby I, Levivier M, Pasteels JL, Brotchi J, Kiss R (1993c) DNA histogram typing in a series of 707 tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system. Am J Surg Pathol 17:1020–1028
Salmon I, Levivier M, Camby I, Rombaut K, Gras T, Pasteels JL, Brotchi J, Kiss R (1993d) Assessment of nuclear size, nuclear DNA content and proliferation index in stereotaxic biopsies from brain tumors. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 19:507–518
Salmon I, Dewitte O, Pasteels JL, Flament-Durand J, Brotchi J, Vereerstraeten P, Kiss R (1994) Setting up of prognostic scores in adult gliomas using patient age, histopathological grading, and DNA histogram type. J Neurosurg 80:877–883
Silverberg E, Lubera JA (1988) Cancer statistics, 1988. ca: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 38:5–22
Smalley SR, Laws ER Jr, O'Fallon JR, Shaw EG, Schray MF (1992) Resection for solitary brain metastasis. Role of adjuvant radiation and prognostic variables in 229 patients. J Neurosurg 77:531–540
Velthoven R van, Petein M, Oosterlinck WJ, Zandona C, Zlotta A, van der Meijden APM, Pasteels JL, Roels H, Schulman C, Kiss R (1995) Image cytometry determination of ploidy level, proliferative activity and nuclear size in a series of 314 transitional bladder cell carcinomas. Hum Pathol 26:3–11
Walker AE, Robins M, Weinfeld FD (1985) Epidemiology of brain tumors: the national survey of intracranial neoplasms. Neurology 35:219–226
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The present work was carried out on the basis of grants awarded by the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique Médicale (FRSM, Belgium).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kiss, R., Rorive, S., Camby, I. et al. DNA ploidy level assessments in 83 human brain metastases relationship to the survival of 35 patients. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 122, 127–131 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01226271
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01226271