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Ki-67 expression in primary breast carcinomas and their axillary lymph node metastases: clinical implications

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Abstract

Proliferative activity of tumour cells assessed by immunohistochemical Ki-67 expression is one of several prognostic indicators in breast cancer. The major objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of Ki-67 proliferative activity in the axillary lymph node metastases and in the matched primary breast carcinoma from 194 patients. There was a statistically significant up-regulation of Ki-67 protein in the metastatic deposit compared to where the primary tumour was found (p = 0.001). A low Ki-67 index in both the primary and the metastatic tumours was a favorable prognostic factor. A high index in both primary and metastatic lesion and an up-regulation from a low index in the primary tumour to a high index in the metastatic deposit represented an unfavorable prognostic factor. Multivariate analysis showed that Ki-67 expression in the metastases was a superior independent prognostic factor of clinical outcomes compared to that in the primary tumours. Ki-67 expression in ≥10% of carcinoma cells in the primary tumours and ≥15% in the nodal metastases seems to be optimal cut-off levels. Ki-67 is of value as an independent prognostic factor in breast cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Kirkeveien 166, N-0407, Oslo, Norway

    Daehoon Park, Tove Noren & Torill Sauer

  2. Department of Surgery, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    Rolf Kåresen

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  1. Daehoon Park
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Correspondence to Daehoon Park.

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Park, D., Kåresen, R., Noren, T. et al. Ki-67 expression in primary breast carcinomas and their axillary lymph node metastases: clinical implications. Virchows Arch 451, 11–18 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-007-0435-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-007-0435-2

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