Analysis of Ki-67 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma: why Ki-67 is not a prognostic indicator.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To analyze the prognostic value of Ki-67 in oral cancer and its relationship with Ki-67 expression in precancerous epithelium.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

We studied 79 tumors from 65 patients. Immunohistochemistry study with Mib-1 monoclonal antibody was used to detect Ki-67 expression in tumor tissue and adjacent non-tumor tissue. The influence of different variables on survival was studied with univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS:

Ki-67 expression was significantly higher in well-differentiated versus poorly-differentiated carcinomas. The survival time of these patients was affected by the clinical presentation, T, N, stage, and surgical treatment. Ki-67 expression had no impact on survival. An association was found between the parabasal expression of Ki-67 in adjacent non-tumor epithelium and Ki-67 expression in the tumor.

CONCLUSIONS:

Ki-67 lacks prognostic value, probably because it is a marker of the total fraction of proliferating cells, corresponding not only to cells in constant proliferation but also to proliferating cells destined for terminal differentiation.

• Authors: M A Gonzalez-Moles, I Ruiz-Avila, J A Gil-Montoya, F Esteban, M Bravo
• Journal: Oral oncology (Oral Oncol) Vol. 46 Issue 7 Pg. 525-30 (Jul 2010) ISSN: 1879-0593 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20400362 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Ki-67 Antigen
• Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biomarkers, Tumor (genetics, metabolism)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (metabolism, mortality, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Ki-67 Antigen (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mouth Neoplasms (metabolism, mortality, pathology)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Prognosis
• Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (genetics, metabolism)
• Spain
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 (genetics, metabolism)