title: Computer-assisted analysis of cell proliferation markers in oral lesions.
abstract: 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.
authors: 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.
authors: Debora Barreto
authors: DB
authors: Teresa
authors: Karina Antunes
authors: KA
authors: Neves
authors: Carlos Benatti
authors: CB
authors: Neto
authors: Paula Andrea Gabrielli
authors: PA
authors: Fregonezi
authors: Maria Rita Brancini
authors: MR
authors: de Oliveira
authors: José Antonio Sampaio
authors: JA
authors: Zuanon
authors: Eduardo Antonio
authors: EA
authors: Donadi
authors: Celso Teixeira
authors: CT
authors: Mendes-Junior
authors: Christiane Pienna
authors: CP
authors: Soares
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D012834:Silver