Abstract
The prognostic significance of DNA ploidy, DNA index, S-phase fraction (SPF) and median nuclear size was studied in 11 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. These patients have been followed for a minimum of 7 months after diagnosis. Nuclear DNA content was determined by flow cytometry from paraffin-embedded tissue. Patients with DNA diploid cancer (n = 7, 64%) had a better survival rate than patients with aneuploid cancer, and a small SPF was associated with a favorable outcome. A statistically significant relation between median nuclear size and survival could be demonstrated. Small modal nuclear size associated with poorer prognosis. There was a significant difference in survival between metastatic and nonmetastatic groups of tumors during the follow-up period. This study suggests that flow cytometric determination of nuclear DNA ploidy from paraffin-embedded samples in penile cancer does add an additional prognostic determinant in addition to the clinical staging of tumors.