Deoxyribonucleic Acid Cytometry and Histological Findings Before and After 125Iodine Implantation of Primary Prostate Cancer

Abstract Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) flow cytometry and light microscopy were performed in preradiotherapy and post-radiotherapy biopsies obtained from the primary tumor in 31 patients with prostate cancer. Radiotherapy was applied by means of transperineal 125 iodine ( 125 I) implantation. Of the patients 21 had pretreatment biopsies and in 19 of these biopsies also were performed 1 and/or 1½ years after the 125 I implantation. Posttreatment biopsies were available for DNA flow cytometry in 12 additional patients without pretreatment DNA flow cytometry assessment. Of the 21 pretreatment biopsies 7 were diploid, 6 tetraploid and 8 aneuploid. All 31 posttreatment biopsies were either tetraploid (21) or aneuploid (10). All 6 pretreatment diploid tumors became tetraploid after radiotherapy. At 1 and/or 1½ years after 125 I implantation residual tumors were found in 28 of 31 prostatic glands. The high frequency of nondiploid DNA stemlines 1 or more years after 125 I implantation and the high rate of residual tumor leave some doubt about the radiocurability of prostate cancer by the chosen radiotherapy technique.