Open AccessA comparison between flow cytometric ploidy investigation and chromosome analysis of 32 human colorectal tumors
Author(s) -
Petersen Steffen E.,
Friedrich Ursula
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
cytometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1097-0320
pISSN - 0196-4763
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.990070403
Subject(s) - ploidy , flow cytometry , chromosome , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene
The correlation between flow cytometric ploidy investigation and classic chromosome analysis was studied in 32 human colorectal tumors. Flow cytometry was performed by nuclei isolation and DNA staining with ethidium bromide. Chromosome analysis was done after incubation with colcemid. In 12 cases, chromosome identification was possible by grouping according to the Denver system or by Q‐banding. Generally, the measured DNA content corresponded well with the content expected from chromosome analysis, giving an average difference of 4%. In nine tumors, the measured DNA content was 4‐18% higher than expected. Some of these discrepancies could be due to difficulties in identifying the corresponding cell populations in heterogeneous tumors. However, in general the number of cell populations and their quantitative representation by the two methods were statistically well correlated. The results indicate that flow cytometric ploidy investigation of colorectal tumors with the present technique is a reliable method, but also that a combination of both techniques may yield additional information about tumor cytogenetics.