EVALUATION OF AGNOR AND KI-67 ANTIGEN AS CELL KINETIC-PARAMETERS IN ORAL DYSPLASIAS AND CARCINOMAS

The mean numbers of argyrophil nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) an d the Ki-67 antigen expression as proposed cell kinetic parameters wer e evaluated in 80 biopsies of suspected oral dysplasias and 40 probes of oral squamous cell carcinomas. No statistical relationship was foun d between the mean numbers of AgNORs and nucleoli per cell. However, t he mean numbers of AgNORs per nucleus and the percentages of cells in S-phase as determined by flow cytometry show a correlation. Related to the histological degree of dysplasia, both AgNOR counts and percentag es of cells in S-phase reveal a similar pattern of distribution. With values widely spread, the percentages of Ki-67 positive cells increase according to the histopathological degree of malignancy. Also, a corr elation between the percentages of Ki-67 positive cells and cells in S -phase was evident. Therefore, both the AgNOR counts and the Ki-67 ant igen are considered to be valuable tools for cell kinetic reference an d can be considered supplementary methods to flow cytometry in diagnos is and therapy of oral cancer.