[Growth fraction (Ki67), ploidy balance and proliferation index in tumors of the urogenital tract and breast].

The practical applications of computer-assisted image analysis systems are multiple in oncology. The computerized system of image analysis referred to as SAMBA (TITN) is particularly relevant to analyse coloured images resulting from immunostaining or histochemical procedures assessed either on tissue sections of any type or cytological preparations (imprints, smears). The SAMBA analysis of positive Ki67 surfaces in tissue sections from breast, endometrial, ovarian, cervical or urinary bladder samples enables a multiparametric evaluation of the growth fraction (GF) in intraepithelial, borderline or invasive proliferations. Moreover, the SAMBA analysis after Feulgen staining procedures provides a parametric evaluation of the nuclei densitometry and morphological features and of the chromatin texture, which serve to compute the ploidy balance (BP) and the proliferation index (PI). In benign tumors, GF and PI are low and tumor cells are diploid with an overall high positive PB values. In malignant tumors, GF, PI and the percentage of aneuploid cells increase with tumor grade and stage whereas PB decreases. In borderline proliferations, FC, PI and PB intermediate values are recorded. These new criteria of prognosis should be assessed routinely in pathology departments and the results from these new investigations are likely to be soon implicated in the selection of patient therapy.