The value of NOR numbers in neoplastic and non‐neoplastic epithelium of the stomach

Abstract

Using a silver staining technique, nucleolar organizer region-associated proteins (AgNORs) have been studied in paraffin sections of 15 benign gastric ulcers, seven early gastric cancers, 13 gastric adenocarcinomas and 10 control cases. A significant difference in the mean number of AgNORs per nucleus was found when control and benign groups were compared with the malignant group. However, there was an overlap between each category. Further studies are warranted to determine if this may be of value in differentiating regenerative epithelium from early malignancy.

Proliferative activity of cancer cells in front and center areas of carcinomain situ and invasive sites of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma

“…It has been suggested that the AgNOR number differs significantly in benign and in malignant tumors of different organ systems such as the breast and bronchus; the AgNOR number has therefore been proposed as a diagnostic parameter for the grade of malignancy (Abe et al, 1991;Schwint et al, 1994). With regard to cancers in the alimentary tract, the AgNOR number has been reported to reflect the prognosis of colon cancer (Ö fner et al, 1990); it is also higher in malignant than in benign lesions of the stomach (Sureg et al, 1989). We have examined the AgNOR number in cases of esophageal carcinoma undergoing esophageal resection and reconstruction, using routinely processed biopsy specimens.…”

Nucleolar organiser regions in pathology

“…Ruschoff et al demonstrated a prognostic significance in gastric carcinoma. Early studies using longer but variable incubation times showed overlap between benign, regenerative and malignant epithelium (Suarez et al, 1989).…”

Are argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions good prognostic indicators of survival of patients with esophageal cancer with lymph node metastasis?

“…Previous studies have suggested that the numbers of AgNORs per nucleus might be a predictor of malignant potential or a marker of carcinoma in breast cancer [7], gastric cancer [8], and colon cancer [9]. In esophageal cancer, many reports have indicated that the number of AgNORs is a good indicator of malignant potential.…”