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Correlation between PCNA and AgNOR scores in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas using sequential staining technique
F G Smith1, P G Murray, J Crocker
1Department of Histopathology, East Birmingham Hospital, Bordesley Green East.
Journal of Clinical Pathology
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Investigating silver-stained nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in lymphomas revealed unexpected findings. PCNA-negative nuclei in high-grade lymphomas showed high AgNOR scores, suggesting proteins persist longer than PCNA.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Histopathology
Background:
- Silver-stained nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) are markers of cellular proliferation.
- Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a marker for identifying proliferating cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between AgNOR counts and PCNA expression in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and palatine tonsil.
- To compare AgNOR and PCNA levels in low-grade versus high-grade NHL.
Main Methods:
- Applied a sequential technique to paraffin-embedded sections for demonstrating AgNORs and PCNA.
- Quantified PCNA-positive cells in NHL and tonsil specimens.
- Counted AgNORs in both PCNA-positive and PCNA-negative nuclei.
Main Results:
- High-grade NHL showed higher PCNA-positive cell counts than low-grade NHL.
- AgNOR counts were generally higher in PCNA-positive nuclei.
- Notably, PCNA-negative nuclei in high-grade lymphomas exhibited high AgNOR scores, contrasting with tonsil findings.
Conclusions:
- The observed high AgNOR scores in PCNA-negative neoplastic cells were unexpected.
- This suggests argyrophil proteins may persist in the nucleus longer than PCNA in neoplastic tissues.
- Findings challenge the direct correlation between AgNOR scores and proliferating cell counts in certain cancers.