background : The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) index and the proliferative index (the fraction of cells in the S phase) can be independent prognostic indicators of the biologic aggressiveness of certain malignant neoplasms. objective : To determine whether the DNA index or proliferative index could predict metastases in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. methods : Nineteen different metastases from 15 patients with primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were reviewed, graded, and had DNA proliferative indexing performed by fluorescent activated cytometry. A control group of 13 patients with primary cutaneous SCC without metastases were studied in a similar manner. results : No significant difference between the metastatic and the nonmetastatic SCC groups for either DNA index or proliferative index (non-paired t-test) was observed. No correlative association with histologic grading with DNA index or proliferative index was observed for either group. conclusion : We conclude that aneuploidy and S-phase fraction by fluorescent activated cytometry are not significant predictors of potential metastases in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 1992;18:957–960.
