DNA-cytometric characteristics of recurrent soft tissue sarcomas

Abstract

Aim. To determine the content of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and distribution of cells in mitotic phases in patients with recurrent soft tissue sarcomas for the assessment of malignancy of the process. Methods. Tumor tissues of patients with recurrent soft tissue sarcomas were studied. Research methods included histological, DNA-cytometric and statistical methods. Results. Proliferative activity and proliferative index of recurrent sarcomas differed depending on the tumor grade and stage. Differences in the number of diploid, aneuploid and polyploid cells were determined in each group and between the groups depending on the cell cycle phases. Cell cycle parameters were as following: 100% of G1 (well-differentiated) cancer were diploid, as well as 33.3% of G2 (moderately differentiated) and 15% of G3 (poorly differentiated) tumors. Aneuploid tumors prevailed in G2 and G3, the ratio of which was 66.7 and 85%, respectively. The analysis of kinetic parameters of the cell cycle allowed establishing a decrease in the number of cells in G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle from G1 to G3, which was accompanied by a statistically significant increase in the proportion of cells in S-phase (p ˂0.05). Conclusion. The DNA-cytometric study of cell cycle parameters showed high biological potential of recurrent soft tissue sarcomas, which was determined by two indices - the proportion of cells in G2+M-phase and the cell loss factor; 100% of well-differentiated (G1) tumors, 33.3% of moderately differentiated (G2) and 15% of poorly differentiated (G3) tumors were diploid; aneuploid tumors prevailed in G2 and G3.