CORRELATIONS OF KI-67 AND PCNA TO DNA-PLOIDY, S-PHASE FRACTION AND SURVIVAL IN UVEAL MELANOMA

In 79 patients with uveal melanoma, the tumours were investigated by D NA flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining of PCNA and Ki-67. S-phase as a continuous variable was significantly correlated with Ki- 67 (P = 0.033), but not with PCNA. DNA ploidy was not correlated with either of the two antigens. Ki-67 was significantly correlated with hi stopathological type (P < 0.001) and tumour size (P < 0.001). Large tu mours and epithelioid cell type were associated with a high frequency of Ki-67 positive cells. A high level of Ki-67 positivity (greater tha n or equal to 6.5%) was also associated with a shorter survival (P = 0 .0037), and when adjusted for DNA ploidy, histopathological type and t umour size, Ki-67 in the multivariate analysis remained an important p rognostic factor (P = 0.017).