Flow cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA content and radiation response in esophageal cancer

Cell nuclear DNA ploidy patterns were determined by flow cytometric analysis in 19 patients with esophageal carcinoma. Aneuploid DNA patterns were observed in 13 patients. Seventeen of the patients were treated by external radiotherapy of 50 Gy or more. Intraluminal brachytherapy was also performed in 15 of these patients and their local response to radiation was estimated by barium esophagography one month after completion of the radiotherapy. We investigated relations among the DNA ploidy patterns, clinical characteristics, and local radiation response. Four patients with lymph node metastasis were judged to have aneuploid DNA patterns. These patients with aneuploid pattern showed a favorable local response to treatment one month after radiotherapy. It is possible that the ploidy pattern of esophageal carcinoma could be a valuable predictor of the early local response to radiotherapy. (author)