Aims
To investigate the correlation between AgNORs and p73 immunoexpression. Settings and design: Fifty-two formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded HNSCC cases and ten controls were collected from the Hospital. Subjects and
Conclusions
AgNOR count showed a linear and decreasing trend as the p73 score increases. This correlation was statistically insignificant.
Methods
Tissue blocks were sectioned, dewaxed and rehydrated before silver nitrate staining to determine the AgNOR count and immunohistochemical staining to determine the p73 expression. Adopting the scoring system used by Chen et al. for p73 staining, the proportion of positively stained cells in the whole epithelial layer was determined. Staining was considered positive if >10% of epithelial cells were stained. Statistical analysis used: Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated using SPSS 18 software to determine the relationship between the p73 score against tumor differentiation, mean AgNOR counts and tumor grade and between the mean AgNOR count and p73 score.
Results
Positive results were found in the immunoexpression of p73. Positive results were seen with the staining of AgNOR; however, in comparison with the entire sample size, a significant correlation between mean AgNOR count and p73 immunohistochemical expression was not obtained. Conclusions: AgNOR count showed a linear and decreasing trend as the p73 score increases. This correlation was statistically insignificant.