Ki-67 Index in the Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Tumor Adjacent Epithelia

Choi, Geon; Yoo, Kang Mok; Yoo, Dong Hee; Chae, Sung Won; Jung, Kwang Yoon; Choi, Jong Ouck

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Prognostic information is essential for the evaluation, judgement and optimal treatment of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. To evaluate the biological behavior of the malignancy, in particular, the proliferative activity of tumor cells were analyzed by proliferative markers, such as the Ki-67 index, PNCA and AgNOR. We performed this study to draw correlations between clinical findings and histopathologic prognostic factors using the Ki-67 index in the tumor tissues and the tumor adjacent epithelia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The Ki-67 index of tumor tissues and the tumor adjacent epithelia from 24 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed using immunohistochemical methods. The relationships between the Ki-67 index in tumor tissues and tumor adjacent epithelia and several host and tumor factors were analyzed.
RESULTS
The median Ki-67 index was higher in the tumor tissues than in the tumor adjacent epithelia (p<0.001). The ki-67 index of tumor tissues or tumor adjacent epithelia was not correlated with any host or tumor factor except N stage with tumor of interval to any treatment failure among the five variables which includes Ki-67 index, T stage, N stage, AJCC stage and age. Media interval to any treatment failure was shorter in groups with a high Ki-67 index than in groups with a low Ki-67 index of tumor tissue, but this result was statistically insignificant.
CONCLUSION
The Ki-67 index was of little values in prognosis. However, among the various markers such as, the Ki-67 index, T stage, N stage, AJCC stage and age, the Ki-67 index of tumor tissue was the most significant predictor of interval to any treatment failure.