[An analysis of DNA content and cell cycle in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the DNA content, cell cycle and the clinical stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
Methods: The DNA content and components of cell cycle in the fresh tissues of 26 cases of NPC and 6 cases of chronic pharyngitis were detected by flow cytometry.
Results: All the 6 cases of chronic pharyngitis were DNA diploid, 19(73.08%) cases of 26 NPC were aneuploid. The frequencies of aneuploid in NPC at T2, T3, T4 and II, III, IV stages were 55.56%, 77.78%, 87.50% and 50.00%, 75.00%, 77.78%, respectively. S phase fractions (SPF) were 13.70% and 29.34% in pharyngitis and NPC respectively; 18.45%, 41.83% in diploid and aneuploid NPC respectively. In diploid NPC at T2, T3, T4 and II, III, IV stages, SPF were 7.80%, 12.70%, 32.00% and 13.85%, 31.43%, 35.30%, respectively. In aneuploid NPC at T2, T3, T4 and II, III, IV stages, SPF were 14.04%, 17.59%, 19.57% and 15.10%, 23.33%, 32.08%, respectively. There were significant differences in stastistics between the parameters.
Conclusion: Aneuploidy is the main characteristic change and S phase cells may constitute the main proliferating cell population in NPC, which increase with the advance of NPC.