DNA-content, inflammatory tissue response and tumour size in human lung carcinoma.

Summary Tumour imprints of 75 resection specimens with human lung carcinoma (lobes and lungs) were fixed with alcohol and Feulgen-stained. Resection specimens were cut into serial sections 6 mm thick and tumour mass, tumour involvement into intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary lymph nodes, detailed pTN-stage were determined. DNA-content, DNA-index, percentage of diploidlhyperploid tumour cells, and morphometric nuclear features were measured using an automated image analyzing system (VISIAC). Only 10% of the measured carcinomas were diploid. The DNA-index showed the broadest variance in large cell anaplastic carcinoma, (1.2 – 3.3). Carcinomas growing predominantly within the alveolar space, i.e. without destroying the interstitial tissue showed a lower DNA-content above 3c and above 5c compared to carcinomas destroying the interstitial tissue. Carcinomas with severe stroma reaction were found to have 33% – 48% of DNA above the 3c value whereas carcinomas without stromal reaction had a percentage above 3c ranging 46% - 64% (confidence limits, p>>0.0S). DNA-index increases with increasing tumour volume and decreases for large tumours (>100 ccm). Hyperploid and polyploid tumours were found more frequently in case of pT2 and pT3-stages compared to pTl -stages. No relation ofDNA-content or ploidy was found to lymph node involvement and inflammatory response of host tissue.