[Nucleolar organizer regions in renal cell carcinoma]

Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organizer Regions (AgNORs) were examined in 96 patients with renal cell carcinoma undergoing nephrectomy at Department of Urology, Chiba University Hospital during 1985-1990. Silver staining was performed with one-step method described by Ploton5), and average numbers of grains in a cell were obtained by counting 100 cells. Numbers of AgNORs were increased along with up grading. When AgNORs were compared in various cell types, the number in pleomorphic and spindle types and that in Bellini duct carcinomas were more than that in common types. The number of AgNORs correlated with pT and pV factors, but no relationship was shown between the number and these factors when compared in the same grade. The tumor size correlated with the number of AgNORs. The number of AgNORs in the primary legion showed a reversed correlation with doubling times calculated from either primary, recurrent or metastatic legions examined in 22 cases. In all cases it tended that the number of AgNORs correlated with survival, however survival in G3 cases was not influenced due to worse prognosis. It was concluded that the number of AgNORs in renal cell carcinoma was an additional factor for estimating the properties of tumor cells.