The expression of two cell proliferation indices, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), using the monoclonal antibody in the immunoperoxidase method, and the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs), using silver nitrate staining technique,
ere
assessed in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded material of transitional cell urinary bladder carcinomas. The aim of our study was to examine compareatively the expression of PCNA and the number of NORs in 37 transitional cell bladder carcinomas and
to
investigate how they correlate with tumor grade and the disease stage. It was noticed that the PCNA expression rate(%) related to grade was statistically significnt only between grades II and III (p<0.05), while that between grades I and II was
not
statistically significant (p>0.05). The mean number of AgNORs per nucleus between grades I and II and between grades II and III were statistically significant (p<0.05). As far as the correlation of PCNA expression rate (%) with the stage is
concerned,
PCNA expression rate (%) was higher in the invasive tumors (P<0.05). than in the superficial tumors and AgNOR Numbers was also greater in the invasive tumors (p<0.05). The linear correlation coefficient between PCNA expression rate (%) and AgNOR
counts
was 0.52 (p<0.001).
In conclusion, a considereable relationship was found between the histological grade and each of the two indices used. A good correlation was also demonstrated between each of PCNA expression rate (%) and AgNOR scores to the pathologic stage. Our
results suggest that PCNA expression rate (%) and AgNOR scores may be prognostic indices in urinary bladder cancer.
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