DNA analysis and DNA ploidy in gastric cancer and gastric precancerous lesions

Gastric cancer (GCa) is still a common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, despite improved diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Hence, early diagnosis has critical importance. Flow cytometry reveals rapid and reproducible quantification of nuclear DNA content of disaggregated tissues and assessment of its significance in various malignant and precancerous lesions. A total of 121 patients with GCa, chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), gastric polyps, intestinal metaplasia (IM) and gastric dysplasia and 36 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Flow cytometric measurements of DNA ploidy, total S-Phase, G(2)M-phase and proliferative indexes (PIs) were analysed on fresh gastric biopsy specimens obtained by gastroscopy. DNA aneuploidy was present in 43.75% of the GCas (p < 0.05). We found a DNA aneuploidy rate of 15.38% in CAG, 15.38% in IM and 25% in epithelial dysplasia. One of nine polyps had aneuploidy. None of the normal gastric mucosa samples showed aneuploidy. The controls had lower rates of total S-phase and PIs (p < 0.05). In conclusion, DNA flow cytometry may be offered as an objective diagnostic tool for earls detection of malignant transformation in gastric lesions.