Computer-assisted analysis of cell proliferation markers in oral lesions.
Abnormalities in any component of the cell cycle regulatory machine may result in oral cancer, and markers of cell proliferation have been used to determine the prognosis of tumor progression. The aim of this study was to determine whether silver-stained nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) and Ki-67 measurements could improve the assessment of growth rates in oral lesions. Eighty-three oral biopsies were studied, 20 of which were classified as fibrous inflammatory hyperplasia (FIH), 40 as leukoplakia (LKP) and 23 as oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Within the LKP group, 22 out of 29 biopsies were diagnosed as non-dysplastic leukoplakia (LK) and 18 as dysplastic leukoplakia (DLK), presenting discrete, moderate and severe dysplasia. Ki-67 immunolabeling of the lesions increased steadily in the following order: FIH, DLK, LK and OSCC, indicating that Ki-67 is a good marker for predicting the proliferative fraction among benign, premalignant and malignant oral lesions. The median values of AgNOR parameters indicate that the morphometric index gives better results regarding the proliferative rate than the numerical one. A series of linear regressions between AgNOR parameters and Ki-67 showed positive associations. We conclude that a combination of Ki-67 and morphometric AgNOR analyses could be used as an aid in the determination of the proliferative status of oral epithelial cells in oral cancer.
Teresa
Debora Barreto
DB
Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rua Expedicionários do Brasil, 1621, 14 801 902 Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil.
Neves
Karina Antunes
KA
Neto
Carlos Benatti
CB
Fregonezi
Paula Andrea Gabrielli
PA
de Oliveira
Maria Rita Brancini
MR
Zuanon
José Antonio Sampaio
JA
Donadi
Eduardo Antonio
EA
Mendes-Junior
Celso Teixeira
CT
Soares
Christiane Pienna
CP
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012834:Silver
D015415:Biomarkers; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D012834:Silver