[Cytofluorometric DNA determination of human brain tumors].

Cytophotometric DNA determination was performed on 8 glioblastomas, 4 astrocytomas, 2 oligoden drogliomas, and 4 meningiomas. Tumor cells were separated from a paraffin section and stained for DNA using the acriflavine-Feulgen nuclear reaction. Nonspecific dye-binding was blocked by azocarmin G staining. All the specimens were postirradiated to eliminate primary fluorescence and to stabilize the specific nuclear fluorescence. There were two major differences between benign and malignant gliomas. There were more cells in the synthetic phase in the malignant series than in the benign tumors, and polyploid cells were frequently seen in the malignant series, but not in the benign series such as the oligodendrogliomas or astrocytomas. All glial tumors, benign or malignant, had stem lines deviating higher than the normal diploid value. On the other hand, meningiomas had a diploid stem line. The deviated stem line in glial tumors may be related to some malignant transformation which occasionally develops in these tumors.