title: Evaluation of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions in oral tumor progression.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the presence of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) in normal oral mucosa, dysplasia and microinvasive carcinoma. All histological specimens were reviewed according to the modified classification and staging system for oral leukoplakia described by van-der-Waal et al. [Oral Oncol. 36 (2000) 264]. NOR quantification was performed with an image analyzer after staining by the argyrophilic nucleolar region technique. The morphometric results were statistically different for normal mucosa, dysplasia and microinvasive carcinoma. It was concluded that an increase of NOR activity follows the disease progression and may reflect the degree of cellular proliferation and malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Araraquara Dental School, University of São Paulo State, Rua Humaitá, 1680 CEP, 14801-903 Araraquara, Brazil. lcs@foar.unesp.br
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Spolidorio
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: D M P
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Spolidorio
authors.forename: M F M
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Malavazzi
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000473:pathology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling