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Interphasic nucleolar organizer region distribution as a diagnostic parameter to differentiate benign from malignant epithelial tumors of human intestine

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Virchows Archiv B

Summary

The distribution of the interphasic nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) has been investigated in five hyperplastic polyps, five adenomatous polyps and fifteen colonic adenocarcinomas. The study was performed using electron microscopy and paraffin-embedded sections stained for Ag-NOR proteins. Malignant tumor cells were characterized by a large number of NORs which were small in size and showed a scattered distribution. Nuclei of both types of polyp had only a small number of large-sized NORs in a clustered distribution. In two adenomatous polyps, cells were also observed with an NOR distribution pattern intermediate between that of frankly benign and malignant lesions.

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The authors dedicate this work to the memory of Professor Eugenio Bonetti

This work was supported by grants from Ministero Pubblica Istruzione 60% and by Pallotti’s Legacy for Cancer Research

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Derenzini, M., Romagnoli, T., Mingazzini, P. et al. Interphasic nucleolar organizer region distribution as a diagnostic parameter to differentiate benign from malignant epithelial tumors of human intestine. Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathol 54, 334–340 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02899231

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02899231

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