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DNA index of glial tumors in children: Correlation with tumor grade and prognosis
Author(s) -
Mathew Prasad,
Look Thomas,
Luo Xiaolong,
Ashmun Richard,
Nash Michael,
Gajjar Amar,
Walter Andrew,
Kun Larry,
Heideman R. L.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19960815)78:4<881::aid-cncr27>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - medicine , medulloblastoma , univariate analysis , pathology , histology , oncology , multivariate analysis
Abstract BACKGROUND Although DNA index (DI) has prognostic significance in a variety of pediatric malignancies, there are few data regarding its utility in central nervous system (CNS) tumors. We have previously shown that patients with hyperdiploid medulloblastoma have a significantly better survival than those whose tumors are diploid. Here, we examine the effect of DI and tumor grade on the progression free survival (PFS) of 57 patients with a variety of glial neoplasms. METHODS DI was determined by flow cytometry on freshly obtained tumor tissue from the initial diagnostic specimens; a DI = 1.0 was defined as diploid (DIP), 1.0 < DI < 1.1 as near diploid (NDIP), and DI > 1.1 as hyperdiploid (HYP). Tumors were histologically graded according to the World Health Organization classification. RESULTS There were 21 Grade I tumors, 20 Grade II, 8 Grade III, and 8 Grade IV. Among the 41 low grade tumors (Grade I‐II), 39 were DIP or NDIP, and 2 were HYP. Among the 16 high grade tumors (Grade III‐IV), 9 were DIP, 2 NDIP, and 5 HYP. The 4‐year PFS of low grade tumors was 70% (standard deviation [SD] 12%) versus 8% (SD 7%) for high grade tumors. There was a significant correlation between low grade tumor histology and a DIP/NDIP DI ( P = 0.015), and univariate analysis suggested improved PFS was associated with DIP/NDIP tumors ( P = 0.05). However, DI did not remain a significant prognostic factor after being stratified by tumor grade ( P = 0.87). CONCLUSIONS Unlike medulloblastoma, DI is not an independent prognostic factor in pediatric glial tumors. Cancer 1996;78:881‐6.