Evaluation of AgNOR and Ki-67 antigen as cell kinetic parameters in oral dysplasias and carcinomas.

The mean numbers of argyrophil nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) and the Ki-67 antigen expression as proposed cell kinetic parameters were evaluated in 80 biopsies of suspected oral dysplasias and 40 probes of oral squamous cell carcinomas. No statistical relationship was found between the mean numbers of AgNORs and nucleoli per cell. However, the mean numbers of AgNORs per nucleus and the percentages of cells in S-phase as determined by flow cytometry show a correlation. Related to the histological degree of dysplasia, both AgNOR counts and percentages of cells in S-phase reveal a similar pattern of distribution. With values widely spread, the percentages of Ki-67 positive cells increase according to the histopathological degree of malignancy. Also, a correlation between the percentages of Ki-67 positive cells and cells in S-phase was evident. Therefore, both the AgNOR counts and the Ki-67 antigen are considered to be valuable tools for cell kinetic reference and can be considered supplementary methods to flow cytometry in diagnosis and therapy of oral cancer.