Prognostic value of Ki-67 expression in renal cell carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine the prognostic power of Ki-67 immunostaining in renal cell carcinomas (RCC).


METHODS
Clinical follow-up data were reviewed in 111 RCC and the results of Ki-67 immunolabelling were correlated to standard prognostic factors and survival data of the patients.


RESULTS
Ki-67 expression correlated with tumor grade (p < 0.0001) and mitotic activity (p < 0.0001). In survival analysis Ki-67 expression could be used to divide patients into different prognostic groups (p = 0.0003). In separate analysis with M0 tumors Ki-67 immunolabelling was a powerful predictor of survival (p = 0.0016) as well as disease-free survival (DFS; p = 0.0067). In T1-2N0M0 tumors Ki-67 immunolabelling was superior (p = 0.0005) to other prognostic factors in survival analysis as well as in predicting DFS (p = 0.0006). Grade-2 tumors could be separated into distinct prognostic groups according to Ki-67 labelling (p = 0.0098). In Cox's multivariate analysis Ki-67 was an independent prognostic factor in all three subgroups of RCC.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that Ki-67 expression is an independent prognostic factor in renal adenocarcinoma and could be applied in defining proper therapy for patients suffering from this malignancy.
Aaltomaa
S
S
Department of Urology, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland.
Lipponen
P
P
Ala-Opas
M
M
Eskelinen
M
M
Syrjänen
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen