Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the main cause of cancer in women and the second cause of maÂlignancy deaths. Ki-67 is one of the molecular markers used to evaluate cancer prognosis along with other factors such as age, tumor size, lymph node involvement, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), P53, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2), histologÂical and nuclear grades. This study was aimed to evaluate the correlation of KI-67 expression with some biomarkers and clinico-pathological characteristics in breast cancer patients. MateÂrials and Methods: A total of 513 cases (all female) aged 40- 80 years, were randomly selected from patients who were admitted in two centers affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Buo-alli and Kasra hospitals) over a 7-year period (2010-2015). Assessment of tumors for HER-2, P53, ER PR, pathological type and histologic grade was performed. Ki-67 labelling index (Ki-67LI) was defined as the percentage of MIB1-positive cells among a total number of 1,000 malignant cells at high-power magnification (×400). Results: Our study showed that age, ER and PR status were negatively correlated with Ki-67LI (P<0.05). Moreover, number of lymph nodes involved, HER-2, P53 and nuclear grades had a positive correlation with Ki-67LI (P<0.05), whereas, tumor size and histological grade showed no significant correlation with Ki-67LI (P =0.195 and P=0.721, respectively). Conclusion: Results of our study and other studies confirm that the expression of Ki-67 is significantly associated with ER, PR, HER-2 and P53 status. On the other hand, Ki-67 relationship with clinical characteristics such as age, tumor size and lymph node metastasis is not completely established and needs further research.[GMJ.2016;5(2):90-97]
Highlights
Breast cancer is a major public health issue and chief cause of cancer and cancerrelated mortality in women in Iran and many other parts of the world [1]
Most patients were in 40-50 years range, mean expression of Ki-67 labelling index (Ki-67LI) was measured for each group; patients aged 30-40 years had the highest mean Ki-67LI (34.17%) and patients between 60-70 years old had the lowest mean Ki-67LI (27.22%)
Lymph node involvement was not observed in 36.65% of patients, mean Ki-67LI was maximal in patients which had 7 to 9 of their lymph nodes involved
Summary
Breast cancer is a major public health issue and chief cause of cancer and cancerrelated mortality in women in Iran and many other parts of the world [1]. Tumor size, lymph node involvement, histological and nuclear grades of tumor are some of the prognostic factors for breast cancer [8]. Molecular research has allowed using different molecular markers including estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR), human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER-2), P53 and recently added Ki-67 to predict the disease outcome Expression of these markers impact the course of disease and treatment plan, since tumors with positive ER and PR status correspond better to hormone therapy and positive HER-2 tumors can be treated with Trastuzumab [9,10]. Ki-67 is one of the molecular markers used to evaluate cancer prognosis along with other factors such as age, tumor size, lymph node involvement, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), P53, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2), histological and nuclear grades. Ki-67 relationship with clinical characteristics such as age, tumor size and lymph node metastasis is not completely established and needs further research. [GMJ.2016;5(2):90-97]
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