PURPOSE: DNA flow cytometry is a simple and easy method to assess the DNA content and the cell-cycle distribution of a tumor cell. The prognostic significance of the DNA content and the S-phase fraction in a gastric carcinoma has been controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the nuclear DNA content and the S-phase fraction in patients with a gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Between May 1995 and March 1996, 94 patients who were underwent a gastric resection for a gastric carcinoma were evaluated with DNA flow cytometry. Of them, 88 patients underwent a gastric resection with curative intent. The relationship of variable clinicopathological factors and of recurrence pattern to survival and nuclear DNA content were assessed. RESULTS: The mean age was 55 years. 55 patients (58.5%) exbitied diploidy and 39 patients (41.5%) aneuploidy. There was no relationship between the clinicopathological factors and either the ploidy pattern or the S-phase fraction. Though the recurrence and its pattern were not different between the two ploidy group (p=0.860, 0.137), diploidy tended to recur locoregionally and aneuploidy hematogenously. CONCLUSION: The ploidy pattern was a significant prognostic factor in gastric carcinomas, but should be interpreted carefully.
Aneuploidy ; Diploidy ; DNA* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Ploidies ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by dryness of the mouth and eyes. The glandular dysfunction in SS involves not only T cell-mediated destruction of the glands but also autoantibodies against the type 3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor or aquaporin 5 (AQP5) that interfere with the secretion process. Studies on the breakage of tolerance and induction of autoantibodies to these autoantigens could benefit SS patients. To break tolerance, we utilized a PmE-L peptide derived from the AQP5-homologous aquaporin of Prevotella melaninogenica (PmAqp) that contained both a B cell “E” epitope and a T cell epitope. Repeated subcutaneous immunization of C57BL/6 mice with the PmE-L peptide efficiently induced the production of Abs against the “E” epitope of mouse/human AQP5 (AQP5E), and we aimed to characterize the antigen specificity, the sequences of AQP5Especific B cell receptors, and salivary gland phenotypes of these mice. Sera containing anti-AQP5E IgG not only stained mouse Aqp5 expressed in the submandibular glands but also detected PmApq and PmE-L by immunoblotting, suggesting molecular mimicry.Characterization of the AQP5E-specific autoantibodies selected from the screening of phage display Ab libraries and mapping of the B cell receptor repertoires revealed that the AQP5E-specific B cells acquired the ability to bind to the Ag through cumulative somatic hypermutation. Importantly, animals with anti-AQP5E Abs had decreased salivary flow rates without immune cell infiltration into the salivary glands. This model will be useful for investigating the role of anti-AQP5 autoantibodies in glandular dysfunction in SS and testing new therapeutics targeting autoantibody production.