Prognostic Significance of the Ki67 Proliferation Index in Patients with Breast Cancer Using 14% as the Cut-off Value

Robert Zorica; Damir Danolić; Marija Banović; Lucija Šušnjar; Luka Marcelić; Domagoj Dobranić; Šimun Puljiz; Mario Begović; Tomislav Bečejac; Mario Puljiz

doi:10.26332/n0tvcd40

Authors

Robert Zorica Oncology Department, Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset, United Kingdom Author
Damir Danolić Department of Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice-University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia Author
Marija Banović Poliklinika Leptir, Zagreb, Croatia Author
Lucija Šušnjar Department of Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice-University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia Author
Luka Marcelić Department of Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice-University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia Author
Domagoj Dobranić Department of Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice-University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia Author
Šimun Puljiz School of Medicine, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina Author
Mario Begović National Memorial Hospital dr. Juraj Njavro, Vukovar, Croatia Author
Tomislav Bečejac Clinical Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author
Mario Puljiz Department of Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice-University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26332/n0tvcd40

Abstract

Aims and background: Reference interval for Ki67 proliferation index, in breast cancer patients is still not determined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic value of Ki67 proliferation index in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast using 14% as the cut-off value.
Methods: Correlation of the patient’s age, tumor size, tumor grade, nuclear grade, vascular invasion, axillary node status, estrogen receptor (ER)/ progesterone receptor (PR)/ human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status with Ki67 proliferation index was evaluated. We also analyzed survival outcomes according to Ki67 proliferative index.
Results: Ki67 proliferation index ≤14% was significantly associated with patient age >50 years (p<0.001), T1 (p<0.001) and T2 (p<0.002) tumors,negative axillary lymph nodes status (p<0.002), steroid hormone receptor positive tumors (p<0.001), absent vascular invasion (p<0.001), HER2 negative tumors (p<0.001), nuclear grade I (p<0.001) and nuclear grade II (p<0.015) tumors. This study found no correlation between the Ki67 proliferation index ≤14% and the tumor histological grade (p=0.251). Ki67 proliferation index>14% was significantly associated only with T1 tumors (p=0.036). Ki67 proliferation index did not have significant impact on survival(p=0.958).
Conclusion: 14% cut-off value for Ki67 proliferation index is not predicting survival in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

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