Comparison of Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organiser Regions (AgNORS) with Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) in Different Grades of Transitional Cell Carcinoma of Urinary Bladder

Objective : To Compare Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organiser Regions (AgNORs) pattern with Proliferating nuclear antigen (PCNA) in different grades of transitional cell carcinoma. Design : Descriptive and Comparative study. Material and Methods : A total of fifty transurethrally resected bladder tumour samples (TUR BT) were collected from Mayo Hospital, Lahore and Services Hospital, Lahore and processed for H&E, AgNOR stain and PCNA stain. The grading of tumours were made on H&E stain. While AgNOR pattern and PCNA labeling index were recorded for each case. Results : A significant higher proportion of cases (p<0.02) with 3+ AgNOR dispersion were seen in grade III tumours. The AgNOR proliferative index in grade III tumour was significantly higher (p<0.05) as compared with grade II tumours. The cases with AgNOR dispersion of 3+ had significantly higher mean PCNA labeling index (p<0.02) when compared tumours of 2+ AgNOR dispersion. Conclusion : AgNOR and PCNA have significant role in grading of transitional cell carcinoma. The demon-stration of AgNOR dispersion is also a simple and cost effective procedure and could be considered as a substitute for PCNA labeling index. Key words:  Nuclear organizer regions, PCNA, Transitional cell carcinoma.