Ki‐67 expression as a prognostic marker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Ki-67 expression in tumours has been shown to be associated with prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, primary HCC samples were obtained from 67 patients undergoing surgical resection. None of these patients had been subjected previously to any other form of therapy, such as arterial embolization or chemotherapy. Histologically normal liver tissues from liver resection for metastatic colon cancer were taken as controls (n = 8). Monoclonal antibody against Ki-67 was used for immunostaining and flow cytometry was used to measure tumour DNA ploidy. The mean Ki-67 labelling index (percentage of Ki-67-positive cells) of the HCC (26 +/- 22%; range 0.1-89%) was significantly higher than that of the normal controls (39 +/- 0.8%, P < 0.05). The mean Ki-67 labelling index (19 +/- 15%; n = 28) of the tumours with diploid DNA pattern was significantly lower than those with aneuploid DNA pattern (32 +/- 25%, n = 39; P = 0.01). Hepatocellular carcinoma patients (n = 47) with Ki-67 index > 10% had a significantly lower disease-free and overall survival than those (n = 20) with Ki-67 index < or = 10% (P = 0.0009 and P = 0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that Ki-67 expression and tumour node metastasis stage were two independent prognostic factors for disease-free and overall survival rates. Our results suggest that the expression of Ki-67 is an independent prognostic indicator for patients with HCC after resection and could be of assistance in the decision-making of adjuvant therapy.

CDC25A inhibition suppresses the growth and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

“…However, the present findings cannot be underestimated because uncontrolled cell growth plays a particularly integral role in the progression of HCC. Indeed, several reports have shown that the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67 is significantly associated with HCC relapse (25,26). This is in contrast to colon cancer, where proliferative activity alone appears not to result in fatal events (27,28).…”

Both cell proliferation and apoptosis significantly predict shortened disease-free survival in hepatocellular carcinoma

“…In fact, for representative sections, we tried both methods and obtained higher Ki-67 LI when the pressure cooker was used (data not shown). The most recent study demonstrated the prognostic value of Ki-67 LI in HCC by multivariate analysis (King et al, 1998). However, it is strange that they could not establish any correlation between the LI and clinicopathological features, because cell-proliferating activity should contribute greatly to the biological aggressiveness of carcinoma.…”

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel gene which is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma

“…For this purpose, microscopy was performed by counting 41000 tumorous cells in a randomly selected highpower field (106100) from different representative parts of the tumor. Ki-67 expression level was grouped as high if 20% tumorous cells were Ki-67 positive, and as low if staining was 520% as described (King et al, 1998). As a result, HCCA1 expression level was closely correlated with the Ki-67 index (P50.01).…”