[Histological grading of ductal pancreatic carcinomas. Relationship to silver staining of NOR-associated proteins and to p53 immunoreactivity].

The histological grading of 29 ductal pancreatic carcinomas was compared with that of silver stained NOR-associated proteins and with p53 immunoreactivity. The AgNOR number (NZ) and AgNOR areas (NF) of 10 grade I carcinomas, 13 grade II carcinomas and 6 grade III carcinomas were investigated by image analysis. Furthermore, the protein expression of the p53 gene was examined by immunohistochemistry. A significant difference was found in both AgNOR parameters between grade I, grade II and grade III carcinomas (NZ: p < 0.01; NF: p < 0.05; grade I carcinomas: NZ 5.1/NF 8.2 microns 2; grade II carcinomas: NZ 6.0/NF 11.3 microns 2 grade III carcinomas: NZ 8.4/NF 15.2 microns 2). By contrast no relation was found between histological grading and p53 immunoreactivity. In 56% of all carcinomas positive evidence was found of the p53 gene product. (6 grade I carcinomas, 7 grade II carcinomas, 3 grade III carcinomas). 44% of the cases were p53-negative (4 grade I carcinomas, 6 grade II carcinomas, 3 grade III carcinomas). This study demonstrates that the AgNOR technique is useful in the grading of ductal pancreatic carcinomas, whereas the expression of the p53 gene product is not.