Nucleolar organizer regions are independently associated with a shortened survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract We examined nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NOR) in 102 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Ag-NOR counts were generally higher in tumours from more advanced stages, or in poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. Six potential prognostic indicators included sex, age, year of operation, histology, stage and Ag-NOR count. Stage and Ag-NOR counts had a significant prognostic value in the univariate analysis for 79 patients who died of their lung cancer. In the multivariate analysis, high Ag-NOR counts as well as disease stage were independently associated with a poor prognosis. Furthermore we divided patients into three groups according to their Ag-NOR counts and found that in patients with stage I and II disease higher Ag-NOR counts were associated with shortened survival. This trend did not continue in patients with stage III and IV disease.