NUCLEOLAR ORGANIZER REGIONS (AGNORS) AS A FACTOR FOR PREDICTING LARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

The prognostic significance of silver-binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) was assessed in tissue sections of primary tumours taken from 30 patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx. By means of semiautomated image analysis the AgNORs of 100 tumour cell nuclei were measured. Their number as well as their area were evaluated together with morphometrical features (obtained by automated image analysis) and histopathological and clinical data. Considering the mean number of AgNORs the multivariate discriminant analysis revealed significant differences between carcinomas of patients, who were alive of at least 3 years without local or distant recurrence and those, who had died of laryngeal cancer (p < 0,03%). There was, however, no correlation between the AgNOR number and the DNA features. But, on the other hand, the DNA features, e.g. the 5c exceeding rate according to Bocking and the DNA index according to Atkin were found to be correlated with the tumour size (p < 0,08%). These preliminary results indicate that the AgNOR number as well as the DNA features could be independent prognostic parameter in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, complementary to the staging categories.