title: The AgNOR quantity as prognostic parameter in choroidal melanomas: a standardised analysis.
abstract: In order to assess the prognostic significance of silver-stained nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) proteins, a standardised analysis has been performed on 34 ocular globes with choroidal melanomas. On formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections, the visualisation and quantification of AgNORs were achieved according to the guidelines of the Committee on AgNOR Quantification (1995); statistical analysis was performed on the mean AgNOR area values (NORA). We have encountered significantly higher NORA values in nonspindle shaped elements, in tumours of larger dimensions as well as in those with worse clinical course; no correlations were achieved when the AgNOR quantity was compared with age, sex and amount of pigment. The comparison of Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that patients affected by melanomas with higher NORA values (>3.327 microm2), non-spindle cell histotype and increased size of tumour had a worse prognosis; finally, by Cox multivariate analysis, the AgNOR quantity appeared the only independent prognostic variable to predict the final outcome of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Italy. tuccari@imeuniv.unime.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tuccari
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Giménez-Mas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del-Agua
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Melcon
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Trombetta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giuffrè
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D016622:Silver Staining / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology