Predictive value of high Ki-67 expression in stage I oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens after primary surgery
Christian Freudlsperger1, Sandra E Rohleder, Siegmar Reinert
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tuebingen University Hospital, Tuebingen, Germany. christian.freudlsperger@klinikum.uni-tuebingen.de
Background:
Until now prognostic evaluation for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains difficult. Thus, the aim of the present study was to ascertain the value of Ki-67 expression in predicting locoregional recurrence in OSCC.
Methods:
In a large, homogeneous study population consisting of 166 patients with OSCC exclusively treated with primary surgery, expression of Ki-67 was investigated by immunohistochemistry.
Results:
We report that high proliferation significantly correlated to a higher risk of locoregional recurrence in stage I OSCC patients (p = .029). Carcinomas with a Ki-67 labeling index above the median showed a mean time to recurrence of 42 months, whereas mean time to recurrence was 55 months for those tumors below the median (p = .017).
Conclusions:
This study provides the evidence of a predictive value of Ki-67 expression in stage I OSCC. Therefore, Ki-67 expression level could be used to identify a subgroup of surgically treated patients with stage I OSCC who might benefit from treatment intensification.
