Determination of G1-S-G2 phase fraction ratios of tumour subpopulations from DNA histograms.

Authors describe a new mathematical approach based on mixture decomposition and maximum likelihood method for the determination of subpopulations and G1-S-G2 phase fraction ratios in aneuploid, multiploid DNA histograms. A special computer routine was developed for this purpose (DAHSY). The present study relates to DNA histograms obtained by a Leitz Miamed DNA TV image analyser system. Altogether 23 normal, 14 dysplastic and 28 tumours Feulgen stained gastric imprint smears were measured. In addition to determination of subpopulations and G1-S-G2 phase fraction ratios, the authors also performed a morphometric analysis of Feulgen stained nuclei and determined the values of 5c exceeding rate (5cER) and the 2c deviation index (2cDI). More than one subpopulation were found only in tumours. The usual G1-S-G2 phase fraction rates in normal gastric smears were 85.5%, 9.04%, 4.9%, in dysplastic cases 74%, 15.4%, 10.2% and in tumours 53.8%, 22.9%, 18.8%. Significance of the differences were calculated by the T-test. The G1 phase fraction ratio clearly discriminates the malignant lesions from all others. The S+G2 phase fraction ratio, however, distinguishes the normal cases from the dysplastic ones. The 2cDi and 5cEr could support a multivariate diagnostic system. The cell nucleus area was found also to be of diagnostic value.