DNA Aneuploidy in Anaplastic Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland

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Abstract
Nuclear DNA content of 19 cases of large cell or spindle cell anaplastic carcinomas of the thyroid was studied by flow cytometry. In 17 cases archival paraffin-embedded tissue and in 2 cases fresh material obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy was used for DNA content determination. Unequivocal evidence of DNA aneuploidy was obtained in 13 cases (68%). Two tumors contained more than one aneuploid stemline of cells. Eighteen (95%) of the patients died within 20 months after diagnosis, but 1 patient has survived for 13 years. The observed survival rate of the patients with carcinoma with a DNA index (DI) less than 1.30 was superior as compared with tumors with a DI greater than 1.30 (P = 0.007). All 7 patients with tumors with DIs greater than 1.30 died within seven months, whereas 5 of the 11 patients with tumors with DIs less than 1.30 survived longer than one year after the diagnosis.