title: Assessment of proliferative activity in carcinomas of the human alimentary tract by Ki-67 immunostaining.
abstract: The monoclonal antibody (MAb) Ki-67, which is directed against a proliferation-associated nuclear antigen, was used to measure tumor proliferation in 165 carcinomas of the esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum with an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. The percentage of Ki-67-positive tumor cells (Ki-67 index) was evaluated with the point-counting method. The Ki-67 index in gastric cancers (mean, 24.8%; standard deviation, 11.1%) was significantly lower than in tumors of the esophagus (35.7 +/- 12.6%), colon (37.6 +/- 15.2%), and rectum (34.3 +/- 16.4%). A wide range of the Ki-67 index (5.9-75.3%) could be observed within the various tumor types. In recurrent colorectal carcinomas, the Ki-67 index significantly increased to 51.9%. The Ki-67 index was independent of pathologic (e.g., TNM-stage, grading, tumor volume, tumor site) and clinical variables (age and gender of the patients). A marked heterogeneity of Ki-67 expression within different tumor stages was noted. Statistically significant regional variations in tumor proliferation existed between different areas within the same tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf 1, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Porschen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kriegel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Classen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hilse
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lohe
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hengels
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borchard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen