Flow cytometric analysis of malignant pleural mesotheliomas

• Published in: Human pathology Vol. 20; no. 8; pp. 777 - 783
• Main Authors: Burmer, Glenna C., Rabinovitch, Peter S., Kulander, Bruce G., Rusch, Valerie, McNutt, Michael A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.08.1989; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Diploidy; DNA - analysis; DNA aneuploidy; DNA content; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; lung cancer; Male; Medical sciences; mesothelioma; Mesothelioma - genetics; Mesothelioma - pathology; Middle Aged; Pleural Neoplasms - genetics; Pleural Neoplasms - pathology; Pneumology; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; lung cancer; flow cytometry; mesothelioma; DNA content; DNA aneuploidy; Human; Flow cytometry; Malignant mesothelioma; Respiratory disease; DNA; Cytogenetics; Tumor; Pleura
• ISSN: 0046-8177; 1532-8392
• DOI: 10.1016/0046-8177(89)90072-5

Forty-six cases of malignant pleural mesothelioma were analyzed for histologic subtype, DNA content, and cell cycle characteristics. Sixty-five percent of cases were diploid in DNA content, with intermediate to low proliferative rates. Thirty-one nonmesothelial malignant neoplasms of the lung, of histologic types most easily confused with malignant mesothelioma, were also examined. In contrast to the mesotheliomas, 85% of these nonmesothelial malignant neoplasms of the lung were aneuploid; the aneuploid neoplasms exhibited higher mean proliferative rates (S = 10.6%) than diploid nonmesothelial neoplasms of the lung (S < 6%). Unlike most malignant neoplasms, mesotheliomas most often display diploid DNA contents and low proliferative rates despite their clinically aggressive behavior.