VALUE OF KI-67 IMMUNOLABELING AS A PROGNOSTIC FACTOR IN PROSTATE-CANCER

Objective(s): The aim of the study was to analyze the results of Ki-67 immunostaining in prostatic adenocarcinoma and to assess its prognost ic value. Methods: Clinical follow-up data was reviewed in 190 prostat ic adenocarcinomas and the results of Ki-67 immunolabelling were corre lated to standard prognostic factors and survival data of the patients . All stage and grade categories were included. Results: Ki-67 express ion correlated significantly with histological differentiation of tumo rs, indicators of cell proliferation, perineural growth, density of tu mor-infiltrating lymphocytes and TM classification. In survival analys is, Ki-67 expression was able to discriminate patients into different prognostic groups (p = 0.0035). In a separate analysis including T1-2M 0 tumors, Ki-67 immunolabelling was a significant predictor of surviva l (p = 0.0258). In Cox's multivariate analysis Ki-67 was an independen t prognostic factor in the entire cohort. Conclusions: The results sho w that Ki-67 expression is a potentially useful prognostic factor in p rostatic adenocarcinoma and it could be used as an additional criterio n in defining a correct prognostic category in this malignancy.