# COLON CANCER PROGNOSIS BY CELLULAR DNA CONTENT

> **NIH NIH R01** · MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER (BRONX, NY) · 1990 · $143,665

## Abstract

The purpose of this prospective study is to determine whether
DNA content of tumor cells, measured by flow cytometry is an
independent prognostic variable in colonic carcinomas surgically
resected for cure.  In selected cases flow cytometric data will be
compared with Feulgen cytophotometry.  The significance of DNA
ploidy and cell cycle kinetics will be assessed by multivariate
statistical analysis of factors, such as age, sex, tumor location,
size, stage (Dukes'), grade (histology), CEA levels, and the
presence of peripheral polyps in reference to recurrence,
metastases and 5-year disease-free survival.  The cohort of over
300 patients entered into the study during the first 3 years of this
research will be followed and enlarged to 500 patients, needed to
provide a sound statistical basis for the analysis, as discussed in
the Research Plan.  Preliminary evaluation of 274 patients is
described.  Cell cycle kinetics which have been calculated on 188
benign control colonic samples will be extended to tumor samples
in all cases entered into the study.  A comparison of flow
cytometic results with 3H thymidine uptake should provide
additional data on tumor cells in S phase, to be differentiated
from non-replicating tumor cells with DNA content in the same
range.  The significance of variable DNA ploidy in multiple
samples of the primary tumors will be examined.  We also will
compare the measurements of DNA ploidy in fresh material with
that of formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissues.  Using the
method of Hedley we will specifically examine the effect of
duration of storage on DNA patterns in tissue blocks, 1, 2 or more
years old.  This comparison will be conducted on 200 cases of
colon cancer in which fresh material was examined within the
past 5 years and on a available paraffin blocks of tumor.  Because
of increasing interest in processing material from paraffin blocks
in cases with known clinical outcome, this comparison will be
important to determine the validity and clinical value of DNA
determinations in such studies.  If DNA ploidy proves to be a
factor of prognostic value, as suggested in preliminary studies by
us and others, this observation may have significant clinical
implications, particularly for the common categories of colon
cancers Dukes' stage B and C and histologic grade II.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3173331
- **Project number:** 5R01CA035745-06
- **Recipient organization:** MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER (BRONX, NY)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FP1VD1HU5HV7
- **Principal Investigator:** LEOPOLD G. KOSS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $143,665
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-08-01 → 1991-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3173331

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3173331, COLON CANCER PROGNOSIS BY CELLULAR DNA CONTENT (5R01CA035745-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3173331. Licensed CC0.

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