Expression of Ki-67 in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the Ki-67 labelling index (LI) as a prognostic factor for the outcome of penile carcinoma, as in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx the expression of this marker correlates with histological features indicative of prognosis.


METHODS
We retrospectively analysed the records of 44 patients in whom primary SCC of the penis was treated with amputation and bilateral lymphadenectomy (pT1, in 24, pT2 in 20, pN+ in 10; G1 in 12, G2 in 28 and G3 in four). During a mean follow-up of 35.6 months, four patients had disease progression. Tumour tissue was stained immunohistochemically using the streptavidin-biotin method. The mean Ki-67 LI was defined as the percentage of total tumour cells that were Ki-67-positive. The results were compared with pathological tumour stage, grade, nodal status and clinical disease progression.


RESULTS
The mean (range) Ki-67 LI was 40.5 (6.4-93.0)%; a high mean Ki-67 LI was significantly inversely correlated with tumour differentiation (P < 0.005) and there was a tendency for a high Ki-67 LI to be associated with advanced local tumour stage, nodal metastasis and clinical disease progression, but these correlations were not statistically significant (P = 0.07, 0.07 and 0.06, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The Ki-67 LI is correlated with tumour grade in penile cancer, and may indicate a greater risk of nodal metastasis.
Berdjis
Navid
N
Department of Urology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany. Navid.Berdjis@mh.org.au
Meye
Axel
A
Nippgen
Johannes
J
Dittert
Dag
D
Hakenberg
Oliver
O
Baretton
Gustavo B
GB
Wirth
Manfred P
MP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen