Abstract
The prognostic value of the number of nucleolar Organizer regions (NORs) (DNA loops
in the nucleus) in tumor cells from various kinds of malignancies has been widely
studied in recent years. During the period 1989 to 1992, a total of 73 primary lung
tumors was examined for the number of NORs by silver staining AgNOR proteins on the
stump smear of resected specimens in this hospital. The relations of the mean number
of AgNOR per cell with other factors such as sex, age, habit of smoking, performance
Status, tumor location, tumor size, pathological stage, histological type, degree
of differentiation, and whether histologically vascular or lymphatic invasion were
analysed. It was found that the mean number of AgNOR was significantly different between
positives and negatives of histologically vascular or lymphatic invasion (6.4 ± 0.4
vs 5.5 ± 0.2) (p < 0.05). Both Single and multiple-variate analysis of patient survival
revealed that the mean number of AgNOR was a significant prognostic factor, as were
pathological stage, histological type, and Performance Status of the patient. Patients
with a higher mean number of AgNOR (> 7) had a significantly worse prognosis compared
with those with less AgNOR (≤ 7) (median survival 28 versus 43 months) (p < 0.05).
It was concluded that the mean number of AgNOR of tumor cells is a significant prognostic
factor in surgically treated lung Cancer patients.
Key words
Lung cancer - Nucleolar Organizer regions - Surgery
