CORRELATION OF MEAN ARGYROPHILIC NUCLEOLAR ORGANIZER REGIONS an‎d AgNOR PROLIFERATION INDEX WITH ESTROGEN RECEPTOR STATUS IN CARCINOMA OF BREAST

Background and Objectives: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and a leading cause of death in women throughout the world. Improved methods of detection and treatment have had a significant influence on disease outcome. Studies conducted at various places in Pakistan show that breast cancer is the most frequently recorded malignancy and a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in our population. Moreover, in the majority of our population the tumors are already of large size when women first seek medical attention. Carcinoma of breast is one of the hormone dependent tumors. The objectives of this study were to compare the argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions pattern in ER+ve and ER-ve tumors of invasive ductal carcinoma of breast. Methods: Fifty cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of breast diagnosed on trucut biopsy, core biopsy, incision biopsy or excisional biopsy were collected from Lahore General Hospital, Lahore. Haematoxylin and Eosin staining, estrogen receptor staining and Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions staining were done. Results: The mean age of the patients was 46.84 years. Maximum number of cases was in 40-49-year age group. The mean duration of symptoms was 4.62 months. Mean AgNOR in ER-ve tumors was not significantly higher than in ER+ve tumors. AgNOR proliferation index was significantly higher (p 0.01) in ER-ve tumors than ER+ve tumors. Conclusion: In this study of 50 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of breast, ER+ve cases had low AgNOR parameters. Whereas the ER-ve cases had high AgNOR parameters. It is concluded that AgNOR parameters correlate with ER status. So, AgNOR staining can be done in place of ER staining as it is economical and more feasible in poor countries.