[The prognostic significance of DNA ploidy in laryngeal cancers].

OBJECTIVES We assessed the relationship between DNA ploidy and histopathologic parameters and its effect on prognosis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. PATIENTS AND METHODS Surgical sections of 44 patients who were treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx were studied. Image cytometry measurements were performed on nuclear suspensions derived from paraffin-embedded sections to determine DNA ploidy patterns. We investigated the relationship between the DNA ploidy status and localization, stage, differentiation, keratinization, depth of tumoral invasion, lymphocytic infiltration, perineural invasion, infiltration pattern, necrosis, and 5-year and overall survival rates. RESULTS Aneuploidy and diploidy were diagnosed in 65.9% and 34.1%, respectively. No significant relationships were found between DNA ploidy and stage, localization, differentiation, keratinization, depth of invasion, infiltration pattern, lymphocytic infiltration, necrosis, perineural invasion, and lymph node metastasis (p>0.05). The five-year (p=0.048) and overall (log rank=4.40; p=0.036) survival rates were significantly higher in diploid tumors. The presence of perineural invasion (p=0.004) and depth of the invasion exceeding 9 millimeters (p=0.045) were significant factors adversely influencing the five-year survival rate. The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the DNA ploidy status (p=0.042) and the presence of perineural invasion (p=0.009) were independent prognostic variables related to decreased survival. CONCLUSION Aneuploidy has an adverse effect on the prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.