Abstract:

Background and purpose: Argyrophilic nucleoar organizer regions (AgNORs) has been widely used in diagnosis and prognostic in malignant tumor, AgNORs content can be used to reflect prognosis and recurrence of the malignant tumors. Studies found that AgNORs is an independent prognostic factor in pharynx cancer, multiple myeloma, male breast cancer and prostate cancer. This study aimed to examine the expression of AgNORs in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and analyze the relationship between the expression of AgNORs and clinical factors including age, gender, clinical stage, T stage, N stage, classification, histology grade, recurrence and incisal edge. Methods: Clinical information and the AgNORs count of 122 cases laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients, who were initially treated by surgery between 2001 and 2004, were collected. SPSS 16.0 software was used. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and log-rank test was used for data analysis; multivariate analysis was carried out using Cox proportional hazard model. Results: The positive AgNORs expression group (5-year overall survival rate: 58%) had a worse prognosis than that of negative group (5-year overall survival rate: 76%) (P<0.05). Age, clinical stage, T stage, N stage, classification, recurrence, incisal edge and AgNORs expression were the most important prognostic factors (P<0.05). The expression of AgNORs was correlated with clinical stage, T stage, recurrence and incisal edge (P<0.05). AgNORs expression was statistically significant differences on judging lymph node metastasis in the supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma, and it was related with recurrence in the patients of negative incisal edge. Age and recurrence were independent prognosis factors on survival in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients. Conclusion: Postoperative active treatment may should be recommended for cases with AgNORs positively expressed and the incisal edge negative; and selective lymph node dissections may should be performed on supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma with AgNORs positive patients.

Key words: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, Argyrophilic nucleoar organizer regions, AgNORs