DNA FLOW CYTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF SEROUS OVARIAN-TUMORS OF LOW MALIGNANT POTENTIAL

Background. Ovarian serous tumors of low malignant potential (STLMP) occasionally progress a small percentage of patients die of the tumor. There is no known way to predict which tumors will progress. Methods. Forty STLMP were analyzed by DNA flow cytometry and compared with 26 serous carcinomas. Results. Forty percent of Stage I STLMP and 40% of Stage III STLMP were DNA aneuploid as compared to 54% of serous carcinomas. Aneuploidy was found in 50% of STLMP that progressed and in 38% of neoplasms that did not progress. Four of the 30 Stage I STLMP progressed, and 3 of the 4 were aneuploid; whereas, of the 26 Stage I STLMP that did not progress, 9 were DNA aneuploid. Stage III STLMP were aneuploid in 4 out of 10 instances (40%). Aneuploidy was not related to progression as three of four DNA diploid tumors progressed, and three of six that did not progress were aneuploid. Thirteen of 16 aneuploid STLMP had peridiploid aneuploid populations. The mean follow-up periods were 14.3 years for Stage I STLMP and 8.3 years for Stage III STLMP. Conclusions. DNA aneuploidy in Stages I and III STLMP does not identify neoplasms likely to relapse with sufficient frequency to be useful in identifying those patients at high risk for relapse.