CORRELATION BETWEEN DNA-PLOIDY, PROLIFERATION MARKER KI-67 AND EARLY TUMOR PROGRESSION IN RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

Objective: The course of metastatic renal cell carcinoma shows a broad range of interindividual variation that cannot be sufficiently predic ted by tumor stage and grade. The aim of this study was to establish t he prognostic value of DNA ploidy and the proliferation marker Ki-67 i n renal cell carcinoma. Methods: Both parameters were measured simulta neously in 100 tumors and then correlated with the classic prognostic criteria pathologic stage and tumor differentiation grade as well as c linical course (early tumor progression). Results: DNA ploidy correlat ed well with staging, grading and early progression. The proliferation index (Ki-67) correlated well with tumor stage and histopathological grade but not with the clinical course (early progression). Conclusion : Due to the diverse biological potential of renal cell carcinoma obse rvation of further clinical course, including late tumor progression, will be necessary to determine whether one of these two indicators can provide additional information beyond what differentiation grade and turner stage already tell us.