OBJECTIVETo make quantitative analysis of DNA content of breast cancer with neuroendocrine (NE) cells and its significance.

METHODSUsing MIPS-III image analyzer, DNA content and 9 parameter measurements of the tumor nuclei were made in both NE positive (17) and negative (64) breast carcinomas.

RESULTSOut of 81 breast carcinomas, 17 cases were NE positive while 64 cases were NE negative. In the NE (+) cases, the integral optic density, mean optic density, DNA index, DNA stemlines peak, > 5c aneuploidy cells and the rate of aneuploidy cells were all lower than those in the NE negative breast carcinoma cases (P < 0.01). The positive rates of NE cells were 32.5% and 7.9% in grade I - II breast carcinomas and in grade III breast carcinomas respectively with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOur study shows that NE (+) breast carcinomas have lower DNA parameters than NE (-) breast carcinomas, suggesting that NE (+) breast carcinomas have lower malignancy.