6th ESACP Congress, Heidelberg, April 7-11, 1999

A153
NUMERICAL CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS EVALUATED BY FISH - A BASIS FOR STANDARDIZATION IN IMAGE CYTOMETRTY OF PLEURAL FLUIDS?
Wiener HG, Remkes GW, Kaufmann H, Fiegl M, Breitnecker G

Departments of Pathology and Oncology, Universities Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria

DNA image cytometry (ICM) proved to be a valuable tool in follow up of cancer patients. Yet, the lack of generally accepted numerical classification of DNA-histograms limits its value. The aim of the presented study was to test the discriminative value of DNA parameters suggested by the European Consensus report. On smears of 100 pleural effusions from cancer patients a panel of chromosomes was tested for numerical aberrations. Direct fluorescence in situ hybridisation was done for chromosome 7, 8, 11, 12, 17 and 18 on all effusions. Image cytometrically obtained DNA-histograms were classified by the parameters DNA-Index (DI), 2c deviation index (2cDI) according to Böcking, and 5cex-rate. Values found in pleural effusions lacking any numerical chromosomal aberrations were compared to those with numerical chromosomal irregularities. Independently achieved data were correlated. In the group lacking any numerical chromosomal aberrations the parameters DI, 2cDI and 5cex-rate ranged from 0.84-1.32 (mean 0.99), 0.03 - 0.68 (mean 0.18) and 0.00-0.87 (mean 0.04), respectively. The group of effusions with low and marked numerical aberrations showed DI, 2cDI values and 5cex-rates between 0.91 and 3.03 (mean 1.33), 0.04 and 23.53 (mean 1.95), and 0.0 and 84.47 (mean 5.14). Although the mean values differ significantly, results demonstrate that the 2cDI and 5cex-rate cannot be used as single descriptors in ICM. Their combinatory use with e.g. the DNA-index appears to be of higher value.