[DNA content and its correlation with biological behavior of non-small cell lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between DNA content and biological behavior and its prognostic significance in non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Tumor DNA content was determined by flow cytometry in the specimens from 58 patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer. The DNA content of each cell subpopulation was expressed as the DNA index (DI), and an internal standard was provided by the normal pulmonary parenchymal cells in the same specimen. The prognostic value of DNA content in non-small cell lung cancer was assessed by Cox's model analysis. RESULTS: In qualitative analysis, there was no relationship between DNA ploidy (diploidy or aneuploidy) and the following factors: tumor size, metastasis of lymph node, clinical stage, pathologic type, pathologic grade or survival. In quantitative analysis, high DNA index was observed in tumor size > 3 cm, metastasis of lymph node, stage III/IV, adenocarcinoma and shorter survival, which was statistically significant. Cox's model analysis showed that DNA index was a prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer and DNA index > 2.0 was an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: DNA index analysis is useful for the evaluation of the biological behavior and the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer.

[Association of interleukin-1 gene polymorphism with gastric cancer in a high-risk area of China].

OBJECTIVE: To study the difference in the frequencies of interleukin-1B (IL-1) +3954, -511, -31 and IL-1RN gene polymorphism between gastric cancer patients and normal subjects in Shaanxi Province, a high risk area of gastric cancer of China. METHODS: The genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of 169 normal subjects and 86 gastric cancer patients in Shaanxi Province. IL-1 polymorphisms were analyzed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: T/T genotype frequencies of IL-1 in +3954, -511, -31 and IL-1RN loci were similar between gastric cancer patients and normal subjects (x(2) = 0, 0.04, 0.3 and 0, P>0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: IL-1 gene polymorphism may be not associated with the risk of gastric cancer in this high-risk area.