IMAGE-ANALYSIS OF AG-NOR PROTEINS IN TRANSITIONAL-CELL BLADDER-CANCER

Nuclear organizer regions (Ag-NORs) were visualized using the standard silver-staining technique in biopsy specimens from 112 bladder carcin omas. The area of individual Ag-NOR dots and the area of Ag-NOR protei n/nucleus were measured using a Quantimet 570 image analyser and the r esults were then correlated with clinical, histological, and quantitat ive prognostic factors, and survival. The mean area of Ag-NOR dots was not significantly related to any of the features analysed. The mean a rea of Ag-NOR protein/nucleus was related to WHO grade (P=0.0004), pap illary status (P=0.004), DNA ploidy (P=0.02), S-phase fraction (P=0.02 ), mitotic frequency/mm2 of enoplastic epithelium (P=0.005), mean nucl ear area (P=0.001), and SD of nuclear area (P=0.001). In the entire co hort, the mean area of Ag-NOR protein/nucleus was related to progressi on with a borderline significance (P=0.09), while in survival analysis only Ag-NOR count/nucleus had prognostic value (P=0.010). In Ta-Tl tu mours, Ag-NOR protein area/nucleus predicted progression (T-category) (P=0.016) and survival (P=0.014) significantly. Also, the mean area of individual Ag-NOR dots (P=0.026) and Ag-NOR count/nucleus (P=0.014) w ere related to prognosis in Ta-T1 tumours.