AgNORs in ductal breast cancer: correlation with ploidy and S-phase fraction by DNA flow cytometry.

Silver-binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) have been counted in sections of routinely processed paraffin embedded material. The AgNOR score has been correlated with proliferative activity of various neoplasms. An increase in the AgNOR score can be related to cellular growth fractions or DNA-ploidy. We have examined 301 invasive ductal breast carcinomas by this method. The AgNOR counts were also compared with DNA Ploidy and the S-phase fraction flow cytometry. A positive correlation has been found between the AgNOR score and the S-Phase fraction. These data show cell proliferation. We conclude that AgNOR counting may provide information on breast carcinoma in addition to that obtained from flow cytometric analysis.