A Study of Ki-67 Immunostaining in Prostate Carcinomas and Its Correlation with Gleason's Score and Prognosis: An Experience at a Tertiary Centre in the Himalayan Foothills.

Abstract

Prostate cancer is a significant cause of cancer-related mortality among men worldwide, necessitating the exploration of prognostic biomarkers to aid in accurate risk assessment and treatment decision-making. This cross-sectional study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the role of Ki-67 as a prognostic marker in prostate cancer by examining its association with clinicopathological parameters. A total of 102 archived cases of prostate core biopsy specimens, histopathologically reported as prostate carcinoma, were included in this study. Histopathological grading was conducted using Gleason's scoring and grading system based on morphology. The statistical software "R" was utilized for data analysis. Kruskal-Wallis test and Fisher's exact test were employed to analyze the association between Ki-67 expression and clinicopathological parameters. The study revealed significant correlations between Ki-67 expression and various clinicopathological parameters in prostate cancer cases. High Ki-67 expression levels were associated with higher Gleason scores, increased incidence of perineural invasion, advanced T stages, lymph node metastasis, presence of distant metastasis, and higher prognostic stage groups. The findings of this cross-sectional study support the potential of Ki-67 as a prognostic marker in prostate cancer. The significant associations observed between Ki-67 expression and clinicopathological parameters indicate its usefulness in risk stratification and treatment decision-making. The incorporation of histopathological grading, including Gleason scoring, and analysis of perineural invasion strengthens the validity of the study. Ki-67, in combination with morphological assessments, provides valuable prognostic information for prostate cancer patients.