Predictive value of high Ki-67 expression in stage I oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens after primary surgery.
BACKGROUND
Until now prognostic evaluation for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains difficult. Thus, the aim of the present study was to ascertain the value of Ki-67 expression in predicting locoregional recurrence in OSCC.


METHODS
In a large, homogeneous study population consisting of 166 patients with OSCC exclusively treated with primary surgery, expression of Ki-67 was investigated by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
We report that high proliferation significantly correlated to a higher risk of locoregional recurrence in stage I OSCC patients (p = .029). Carcinomas with a Ki-67 labeling index above the median showed a mean time to recurrence of 42 months, whereas mean time to recurrence was 55 months for those tumors below the median (p = .017).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides the evidence of a predictive value of Ki-67 expression in stage I OSCC. Therefore, Ki-67 expression level could be used to identify a subgroup of surgically treated patients with stage I OSCC who might benefit from treatment intensification.
Freudlsperger
Christian
C
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tuebingen University Hospital, Tuebingen, Germany. christian.freudlsperger@klinikum.uni-tuebingen.de
Rohleder
Sandra E
SE
Reinert
Siegmar
S
Hoffmann
Juergen
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen