DNA aneuploidy by flow cytometry is an independent prognostic factor in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

Background: The clinical significance of flow cytometric DNA content in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is still controversial. Patients and Methods: We prospectively investigated the prognostic importance of tumor size (T), lymph node involvement at presentation (N), degree of histologic differentiation (G) and DNA ploidy (DNA) in 429 surgically treated patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma using multivariate statistics. Results : T, G and DNA were independent predictors of metastasis to the neck. N and DNA were independent prognostic factors of loco-regional recurrence development N and T were prognostic of overall survival. N and DNA were predictive of recurrence-free survival. For the neck negative group, DNA remained as the only predictor of overall and relapse-free survival. Conclusion: DNA flow cytometry adds significant prognostic information beyond that provided by established prognostic factors.