Apoptosis and expression of argyrophilic nucleolus organizer regions in epithelial neoplasms of the larynx

• Published in: Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology 2015-03, Vol.81 (2), p.158-166
• Main Authors: Ribeiro, Christiana Vargas, Vasconcelos, Anilton Cesar, Andrade Filho, José de Souza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Apoptose; Apoptosis; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma de células escamosas; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology; Humans; Laringe; Laryngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Larynx; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial - pathology; Nucleolus organizer region; Nucleolus Organizer Region - pathology; Original; OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY; Papilloma; Papilloma - pathology; Papiloma; Prognosis; Região organizadora do nucléolo; Squamous cell carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
• ISSN: 1808-8694; 1808-8686; 1808-8686
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2014.12.003

Occurrence of apoptosis and expression of proliferative markers are powerful tools to establish a prognosis in the follow-up of cancer. To evaluate the growth fraction in papillomas and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas with three degrees of differentiation through apoptosis and the expression of nucleolus organizer regions. Retrospective study from which paraffin material was submitted to microtomy and hematoxylin–eosin and silver staining. Stained slides were used to quantify the apoptotic index and the number of nucleolus organizer regions by morphometry. Apoptosis was significantly more frequent in well differentiated carcinomas and in papillomas, and a higher growth fraction of expressed nucleolus organizer regions and cells that expressed a greater than average number of nucleolus organizer regions were more frequently noted in undifferentiated carcinomas. Thus, it was possible to verify that a high apoptotic index was associated with a lower chance of tumor differentiation in carcinomas, while a greater number of total nucleolus organizer regions, cells expressing nucleolus organizer regions above average and a higher growth fraction were associated with greater likelihood of abnormal cell proliferation and increased tumor differentiation. A ocorrência de apoptose e a expressão de marcadores proliferativos são ferramentas poderosas no estabelecimento do prognóstico do câncer. Avaliar a fração de crescimento de papilomas e carcinomas laríngeos de células escamosas, com três graus de diferenciação, através da apoptose e expressão de regiões organizadoras de nucléolo. Estudo retrospectivo, cujo material emblocado em parafina foi submetido à microtomia e coloração em hematoxilina-eosina, e pela prata. As lâminas coradas foram utilizadas para quantificar o índice apoptótico e o número de regiões organizadoras de nucléolo (NORs) através da morfometria. A apoptose foi significativamente mais frequente em carcinomas bem diferenciados e em papilomas; enquanto que uma maior fração de crescimento, de NORs expressos e de células que expressaram maior número de NORs, foram mais frequentes nos carcinomas indiferenciados. Foi possível verificar que o índice apoptótico elevado indica menores chances de diferenciação tumoral nos carcinomas, enquanto que um maior número de NORs totais e células expressando NORs acima da média, e uma maior fração de crescimento, determinam maiores chances de proliferação celular anormal e maior diferenciação tumoral.