Variations in the nuclear-cytoplasmic ration during epithelial differentiation in experimental oral carcinogenesis

An increased nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio is one of the cytological features of epithelial atypia taken into account when the histopathologist subjectively assesses whether an epithelial lesion is likely to become malignant. The present work evaluates this ratio ultrastructurally in the DMBA-treated hamster cheek pouch model with a view to assessing whether alterations of this feature represent a valid indicator of malignant transformation. Following DMBA treatment, lesions obtained were assigned to three defined histopathological categories, namely epithelial hyperplasia, epithelial dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma. Untreated pouches served as controls. Electron micrographs were obtained of basal, spinous and granular layer cells from each of these categories and the N/C ratio was evaluated using stereological point counting techniques. The results indicated that progressive decreases in the ratio occurred in all pathological stages during differentiation (i.e., between basal and granular cells). During carcinogenesis there was a tendency for the ratios to decrease in each cell layer but significant differences were not detected between normal and premalignant lesions.