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Prognostic importance of DNA flow cytometrical, histopathological and immunohistochemical parameters in neuroblastomas

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Summary

In 42 tumour samples of human neuroblastoma, histological classification by differentiation (Shimada) was significantly correlated with strong positivity for neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and inversely correlated with rosette formation. Most ganglioneuroblastomas were positive for S-100 protein and reacted strongly with NSE antibody. Histological signs of high proliferative activity included intermediate or high mitosis-karyorrhexis index, necrosis and lack of calcification, which were significantly correlated with each other. Flow cytometric DNA analysis demonstrated that 88% of the tumour samples had DNA aneuploid stem lines. High S phase fraction (>-0.20) was significantly correlated with necrosis and lack of calcification. Univariate analysis of prognosis for 26 patients whose tumour samples were obtained before adjuvant treatment showed that five factors were significantly related to a better outcome: early stage of the disease (stages I, II, IV-S), S phase fraction <0.20, favourable Shimada histology, positivity for S-100 protein, and strong positivity for NSE. In multivariate analysis, only S phase fractionor stage of disease remained significantly associated with prognosis. DNA index did not correlate with prognosis in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatric Surgery, State University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark

    Niels L. T. Carlsen

  2. Laboratory of Paediatric Pathology, State University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark

    Kim Ørnvold

  3. Finsen Laboratory, State University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark

    Ib Jarle Christensen & Jørgen K. Larsen

  4. Institute of Neuropathology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Henning Laursen

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  1. Niels L. T. Carlsen
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  2. Kim Ørnvold
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  3. Ib Jarle Christensen
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  4. Henning Laursen
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  5. Jørgen K. Larsen
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Carlsen, N.L.T., Ørnvold, K., Christensen, I.J. et al. Prognostic importance of DNA flow cytometrical, histopathological and immunohistochemical parameters in neuroblastomas. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 420, 411–418 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01600512

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