title: Ki-67 expression and residual tumour (R) classification are associated with disease-free survival in desmoid tumour patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to evaluate prognostic factors in the long-term survival of desmoid tumour patients, analysis of clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and follow-up data was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1969 and 1998, 54 patients underwent resection of aggressive fibromatosis (desmoid) and 33 of them (10 patients with FAP and 23 sporadic) were followed-up with a median time of 130 months (range 10-355 months). Additionally, immunohistochemical analysis of the desmoid tumours using Ki-67 was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In univariate analysis, curative resection (R0) (p<0.001) and low proliferation of Ki-67 (p=0.002) were of significant positive prognostic value concerning disease-free survivaL R0 and absence of Ki-67 staining were significantly associated with each other (p=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ki-67 seems to serve as a predictive marker concerning disease-free survival of desmoid tumour patients. In patients presenting with Ki-67 positive desmoids, which are unlikely to be resected in a curative manner, alternative treatment (e.g. sulindac) may be preferable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Brueckl
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Preuss
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brabletz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pflüger
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wiest
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolfl
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hohenberger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Günther
mesh_terms: D011125:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D018222:Desmoid Tumors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen