PCNA/AgNOR and Ki-67/AgNOR double staining in oral squamous cell carcinoma

This study was performed on oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) in order t o investigate the relation between the number of interphase silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) and the immunolabeling of proliferatio n-associated markers, using antibodies to Ki-67 and proliferating cell nucl ear antigen (PCNA), Fifteen consecutive cases of oral squamous cell carcino ma were used and a double staining technique was performed in order to quan tify the number of NORs in PCNA-positive and -negative cells as well as in Ki-67-positive and -negative cells. Our results showed a higher mean number of AgNORs in PCNA- and Ki-67-positive cells than in PCNA- and Ki-67-negati ve cells. We concluded that there is an association between cell proliferat ion and AgNOR score in OSCC.