Value of desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in evolution of carcinomas of the human breast

Abstract

DNA content was measured in interphase nuclei of single epithelial cells of lesions of the human breast by a two-wave-length microspectrophotometric technique. The normal lymphocyte was used as a reference for the DNA value corresponding to a diploid number of chromosomes. Epithelial nuclei in lactational hyperplasia and cystic hyperplasia had DNA values in the normal range. Nuclei of invasive adenocarcinomas and intraduct carcinomas of comedo type showed abnormal DNA values. Intraduct carcinomas of uniform cell type yielded values intermediate between those of benign and malignant tissue. The significance of these findings is discussed with reference to DNA abnormalities in other human and animal neoplasms and to the possible use of measurement of DNA as a quantitative technique in the diagnosis of early or equivocal lesions.