MIB-1 (Ki-67) immunostaining of breast cancer cells in cytologic smears.
OBJECTIVE
The reliability of immunocytochemical evaluation of proliferation activity was tested using the monoclonal antibody MIB-1 on cytologic specimens.


METHODS
The study comprised 83 frozen tissue smears (FTSs) and 51 fine needle aspirates (FNAs) from 119 breast cancer patients. MIB-1 labeling indexes (LIs) were compared with various tumor parameters assessed on histologic material.


RESULTS
MIB-1 LIs established on cytologic smears were significantly different in ductal and lobular carcinomas (P = .024) and correlated significantly with mitotic activity (P < .0001), histologic grade (P < .0001) and S-phase fraction (P < .0001). Essentially the same results were obtained on FTSs and FNAs.


CONCLUSIONS
Proliferative activity can reliably be evaluated by FNA cytology, and the evaluation of MIB-1 LIs may complement cytologic grading of breast cancer. The evaluation of proliferation activity may, therefore, contribute to the selection of candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy.
Dalquen
P
P
Institute for Pathology, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Baschiera
B
B
Chaffard
R
R
Dieterich
H
H
Feichter
G E
GE
Krmer
K
K
Torhorst
J
J
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000592:standards*; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen