DNA histograms were obtained by flow cytometry for 39 human prostate carcinomas (27 total prostatectomy specimens, 5 biopsies and 7 transuretral resections). The study was performed on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded material. In this report, ploidy index did not seem to be a good marker of prognosis as no significant variation in ploidy was found neither among the different stages nor among the different Gleason categories. Proliferative index of the tumors seemed to be a more sensitive parameter; a significant relation was observed between proliferative index and stage of the tumor. The authors discuss these results under the light of previously reported observations.