title: Argyrophylic nucleolar organiser regions (AgNOR's) as a prognostic indicator in breast carcinoma.
abstract: Silver staining nucleolar organiser regions (AgNOR's) were determined in archival histological specimens of breast carcinoma. Representative samples from forty-eight female patients were counted manually for AgNOR's--median 3.85 (range 1.1-10.2 AgNOR's per cell). Taking the median value of 3.85 as a cutoff, the patients were divided into two groups: A = Those with AgNOR counts > 3.85; B = Patients with AgNOR counts < or = 3.85. The 5 year survival was 21% in group A and 85% in group B (p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between AgNOR's and tumour size, lymph node status, tumour grade, menopausal status and oestrogen receptors. We conclude that nucleolar organiser regions may be useful as a prognostic indicator in breast carcinoma especially in patients in whom other prognostic information is unavailable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hehir
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cronin
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Dervan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Hederman
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Heffernan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016622:Silver Staining