Abstract 4502: DNA ploidy in tumor correlates with age, and explains some of the poor prognostic impact of age in endometrial carcinomas

Abstract

Abstract Background: Endometrial cancer incidence is increasing in industrialized countries, and the demand for better prognostic markers in order to individualize treatment is emerging. DNA ploidy has previously shown independent prognostic impact in smaller studies. In this study, we wanted to investigate the prognostic impact of ploidy in primary endometrial tumors, and the link between DNA ploidy and patient age at diagnosis in relation to traditional clinicopathologic prognostic variables. Study design: 663 patients treated for endometrial carcinoma at Haukeland University Hospital, Norway, from 1981 through 2010 were included. DNA ploidy in fresh tumor specimens was measured by flow-cytometry. Comprehensive clinical and histopathologic data, treatment and complete follow-up were collected. The software PASWStatistics18 was used for statistical analysis. Results: DNA aneuploidy was significantly correlated to high patient age at diagnosis (p<0.001). It was also correlated to non-endometrioid histology and high-grade tumors (p<0.001) and high FIGO stage (p=0.012). In univariate survival analysis (Kaplan Meier), the 5-year disease specific survival of patients with diploid tumors was 89%, versus 65% for aneuploid tumors (p<0.001). In Cox regression analysis, aneuploidy was significantly associated with poor survival (HR=2.4, 95%CI 1.6 - 3.8, p<0.001), adjusted for FIGO stage, age, grade, and histologic subtype. Interestingly, the prognostic impact of patient age diminished when ploidy status was included in the Cox analysis. Conclusion: DNA ploidy estimation in endometrial carcinoma tumor tissue is highly associated with patient age at diagnosis, as well as prognosis. The prognostic impact of age decreases when adjusting for ploidy status in tumor. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4502. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4502