Can Ki-67 predict recurrence of NO squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue?
OBJECTIVE
Ki-67 is a molecular marker of cellular proliferation that predicts prognosis of some head and neck tumors. Studies of Ki-67 in oropharyngeal cancer have yielded conflicting findings. This study was designed to test Ki-67 as a marker for poor prognosis in N0 tongue squamous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
We examined 29 cases in a retrospective cohort to test the hypothesis that a high rate of tumor cell proliferation (high levels of Ki-67 staining) at the invasive edge of N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue correlates with increased risk of recurrence.


RESULTS
There were 14 cases of recurrence. The average age of the patients with recurrence was 58 years. The average time to recurrence was 13.1 months. A 0% to 33% uptake of Ki-67 at the tumor's leading edge was associated with a 6-times-greater risk of recurrence. The mean length of survival for the group with 0% to 33% uptake was 21 months; for the group with > 33% uptake, it was 33 months. Overall uptake of Ki-67 and histologic grade did not correlate with risk of recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
In this sample, low rates of Ki-67 staining at the invasive edge of the tumor predicted a risk of recurrence. These results need to be confirmed before Ki-67 can be used for predicting recurrence of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.
Davies
Louise
L
Division of Otolaryngology, Fletcher Allen Health Care/University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA.
Hardin
Nicholas J
NJ
Beatty
Barbara G
BG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen