Tumor ploidy was determined by flowcytometry (FCM) in paraffin-embedded tissue of 74 patients with advanced ovarian cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIG01 2B, 3,4). Significant differences in survival and progression-free survival were found between classes of tumor ploidy as well as for several clinical parameters, including FIGO stage, histologic grade, diameter of the largest metastases, presence of ascites, peritoneal carcinomatosis, and size of residual tumor. In a Cox regression analysis, tumor ploidy and presence or absence of ascites were the only significant factors for survival, whereas ascites and residual tumor proved to be the significant parameters for progression-free survival. Tumor ploidy was strongly associated with tumor bulk, size of residual tumor, and histologic grade. Tumor ploidy was the same within different tumor sites in the majority of the cases. On the basis of these findings tumor ploidy is considered to be a major prognostic factor for survival in advanced ovarian cancer.
Cancer 59:317-323, 1987.
ITH MODERN TREATMENT consisting Of debulking W surgery followed by chemotherapeutic regimens including cisplatin, a complete response rate can be obtained in 40% of the patients with advanced ovarian cancer. ' This intensive chemotherapy is, however, associated with important side effects, including the risk of nonlymphocytic leukemia.2 Therefore, much effort has been made to identify prognostic factors that would permit a selection of patients who would benefit most from the aggressive above-mentioned combined treatment. A number of factors have been considered to be related to the prognosis, including age, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, histology, histologic grade, performance status, and size of residual tumor after debulking ~urgery.~-~ Of these factors, the size of residual tumor, histologic grade, FIGO stage, as well as the presence of ascites were reported as predictors of complete response and There is increasing evidence that in a va-From the Departments of