A unique case of cervical carcinoma. Comparison of chromosome analysis and flow cytometric measurements

Abstract

A cervical carcinoma was studied by chromosomal analysis and flow cytometric DNA measurements. Chromosome numbers were determined in 548 metaphases. About 73 % of the metaphases had chromosome numbers in the diploid range and about 22 % had chromosome numbers in the hypotriploid range. Only a few (2.2 %) metaphases were found in the tetraploid/pentaploid range, and about the same number of metaphases had chromosome counts below 38 (3.1 %). 92 metaphases were karyotyped and clonal relationships were determined. Except for a diploid karyotypically normal clone each clone was characterized by the presence of specific marker(s). Flow cytometric analysis of the DNA distribution showed corresponding cell populations with 2C and the 3C content, but a considerable fraction of the cells were measured in the 4C range. The differences between the two sets of data in quantitation of clones reflect that only some properties of a multiclonal proliferating cell population can be analysed with each of the two methods.