title: A High Ki67/BCL2 Index Could Predict Lower Disease-Free and Overall Survival in Intestinal-Type Gastric Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The heterogeneity of gastric cancer makes the identification of potential prognostic indicators particularly important. The Ki67 and BCL2 proteins are known prognostic markers for different types of cancer. Ki67 is associated with cell proliferation, whereas BCL2 has antiproliferative roles. A combined marker based on these opposite functions might provide improved prognostic information in gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ki67 and BCL2 expression was assessed in 276 gastric adenocarcinoma tissue microarrays. A Ki67/BCL2 index based on the relative expression of each protein was divided into low- and high-risk groups using receiver operating characteristic curves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high Ki67/BCL2 index significantly correlated with advanced stage, recurrence, intestinal type, high histologic grade, and lymphatic and perineural invasion (all p < 0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed a significant relationship between disease-free or overall survival and the Ki67/BCL2 index in intestinal-type gastric cancer (all p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combined marker using Ki67 and BCL2 could be a useful indicator for predicting survival in patients with intestinal-type gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyueng-Whan
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Dong-Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byoung Kwan
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Dong Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun-Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jinwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Sang Bong
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Yun Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Young Sook
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Junghoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C000595707:BCL2 protein, human; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
keywords: Adenocarcinoma; Human; Ki67 antigen; Prognosis; Stomach; bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer protein