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Silver‐stained structures (AgNORs), their dependence on tissue fixation and absence of prognostic relevance in rectal adenocarcinoma
Author(s) -
Griffiths A. P.,
Butler C. W.,
Roberts P.,
Dixon M. F.,
Quirke P.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711590206
Subject(s) - fixation (population genetics) , silver stain , pathology , staining , adenocarcinoma , immunohistochemistry , biology , nucleolus organizer region , positive staining , clinical significance , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , cancer , genetics , cytoplasm , gene , nucleolus
The value of a one‐stage silver staining technique for nucleolar organizer region (NOR)‐associated protein was investigated as a predictor of clinical outcome in 100 rectal adenocarcinomas. In formalin‐fixed tissues, a variety of silver‐stained structures ranging from 0·5 to 7 μm are seen, the abundance of which bears no relation to prognosis, cell proliferation, or ploidy. Evidence is presented that the silver‐stained structures are the result of coalescence of smaller particles caused by formalin fixation, and that assessment of NOR activity is not reliable in routinely formalin‐fixed archival tissues.