KI-67 INDEX IN FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY SPECIMENS FROM PRIMARYAND RECURRENT RECTAL-CANCER

A Ki-67 index was determined in 63 fine needle aspiration cytology (FN AC) specimens from patients with rectal cancer, 21 with primary cancer s and 42 with local recurrences, Seventeen of the patients had receive d external irradiation before the examination, In primary cancers, in recurrences as well as in the post-irradiation cases, the mean percent age of Ki-67 positive cells was about 55% with a wide variation, The p ercentage of Ki-67 positive cells was independent of the length of the recurrence-free period. In conclusion, the Ki-67 antigen may well be studied in FNAC specimens. The presence of antigen did not correlate w ith development of recurrence, length of recurrence-free period or irr adiation prior to the analysis.