Relationship of argyrophilic proteins of nucleolal organizer regions in Ki-67+ cells with clinical and morphological parameters in lung adenocarcinoma.

Ninety-four lung adenocarcinoma samples obtained during surgeries were examined using a combination of immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 antigen and silver nitrate staining for argyrophilic nucleolar organizer (Ag-NOR) proteins. In lung adenocarcinoma, we studied the correlation between the area of Ag-NOR proteins in Ki-67(+) cells and clinical and morphological TNM parameters: maximum tumor diameter (T) and stage of the disease and tumor differentiation degree (N). Survival of patients with small area of Ag-NOR proteins in Ki-67(+) cells was higher that in patients with great area of these proteins. The area of Ag-NOR proteins in Ki-67(+) cells is an independent prognostic factor in lung adenocarcinoma. The area of Ag-NOR proteins in Ki-67(+) cells correlates with clinical and morphological TNM parameters and survival of patients with lung adenocarcinoma.