CYTOKINETIC STUDIES OF ORAL-CANCER CELLS USING BROMODEOXYURIDINE LABELING IN RELATION TO FACTORS INFLUENCING PROGNOSIS

Cytokinetics of 27 untreated oral squamous cell carcinomas were evalua ted by in vitro bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labelling. A mononuclear cell suspension was prepared for the labelling using collagenase and DNase treatment. The labelled cells were visualised by immunofluorescence s taining with an anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody. The labelling index (LI %) was calculated by determining the percentage of BrdU labelled cells . The LIs of the carcinomas ranged from 3.8 to 19.2%. The LIs of poorl y-differentiate (HG3) tumours were 2-3-fold higher compared with those of well-differentiated (HG1) and moderately-differentiated (HG2) carc inomas. Results also showed statistically significant (P<0.0005) incre ases in LIs from nuclear grade 1 (NG1) to nuclear grade 3 (NG3) carcin omas. Higher LIs were observed in stage III/IV (10.82+/-4.62; 10.36+/- 4.90) than those in stage I (6.87+/-2.09) and II (7.14+/-1.87) carcino mas. A significant (P<0.0005) difference in LI values was found betwee n the patients with positive and negative lymph nodes. Good correlatio n (r=0.77) was exhibited between the LI values and mitotic counts (MC) of the specimens. These results on oral cancer cell proliferation see m to have prognostic implications.