Flow Cytometry and AgNORs in Benign, Borderline, and Malignant Mucinous and Serous Tumours of the Ovary

Abstract

We performed flow cytometry and AgNOR counts on 117 serous and mucinous ovarian tumours, comprising 56 cystadenomas, 21 borderline tumours, and 40 cystadenocarcinomas. DNA aneuploidy was present in one cystadenoma and in 11% of mucinous and 46% of serous cystadenocarcinomas. All borderline tumours were DNA diploid. Major and minor FIGO stages and flow cytometrically determined DNA ploidy and DNA index were prognostically significant. Age, histological type (serous versus mucinous), flow cytometric proliferative index, and AgNOR counts were not predictive of survival. Cystadenomas and borderline tumours had lower rates of proliferation than cystadenocarcinomas. AgNORs correlated with DNA ploidy and proliferative index. Borderline tumours showed elevated AgNOR numbers despite low proliferative indices and universal DNA diploidy, suggesting that AgNOR numbers may be related to nuclear events other than proliferation and DNA ploidy.