Correlation of heterogeneity index score (HIS) of DNA content in bladder cancer recurrence

Automated flow cytometry (FCM) has been used to monitor the effects of therapy and progression of human bladder carcinoma. We have previously reported a computer-based model which has shown a correlation to relative mean DNA content in cell populations analyzed by FCM. Two patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were followed for several months. Using FCM the patients' tissue samples were examined and heterogeneity index scores (HIS) were determined. Both cases had recurrence. The first patient has increased in grade with a respective increase in HIS within four months (grade I→II, HIS 27.2→80.8). The second patient also has recurrence in three months both times with a grade I tumor and a score of 106.2. High scores reflect large aneuploid populations which have shown to recur. Since such a correlation exists HIS may not only offer a more objective technique with quantitative results to monitor patients but possibly can distinguish the degree of tumor malignancy.