STANDARDIZED AGNOR ANALYSIS - ITS USEFULNESS IN SURGICAL ONCOLOGY

Recent improvements both in the staining quality and computer-aided qu antitation of silver-stained nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR)-associ ated proteins offer the possibility to reliably investigate these prot eins on routinely processed archival material. This article deals with the historical background, the recent introduction of a standardized quantitation, the clinical relevance, and future perspective for AgNOR evaluation. It is specifically emphasized that AgNOR analysis after b oth standardized staining and computer-aided quantitation (as recommen ded by the Committee on AgNOR Quantitation of the European Society of Pathology) is now regarded as the gold standard whenever routinely for malin-fixed and paraffin-embedded material is investigated.