[The relationship between the prognosis of retinoblastoma and proliferating cell nuclear antigen and argyrophilic protein at nucleolus organizer regions].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the proliferative activity of retinoblastoma (Rb) cells and the prognosis of the tumor. METHODS: Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in paraffin-embedded Rb specimens from 48 cases were detected by LSAB immunohistochemical method using an anti-PCNA monoclonal antibody and the technique of ploton. RESULTS: The PCNA labeling index (PCNALI) and the AgNORs counts were well correlated (r = 0.647, P < 0.001). In 29 patients of the 48 cases receiving simple eyeball extirpation and being followed up for 5 years, the mean PCNALI and the mean numbers of AgNORs per nucleus in 19 patients surviving > or = 5 years after operation were markedly lower than that in 10 patients surviving < 5 years after operation (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is indicated that the PCNALI or the AgNOR count is negatively related with the clinical prognosis of Rb patients, and can be useful in judging the prognosis.