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Updated: Apr 6, 2026
Generation and Expansion of Primary, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Tumor Lines
Published on: April 21, 2022
Prognostic significance of Ki67 expression in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma
Krishna Pillai1, Mohammad H Pourgholami, Terence C Chua
1Department of Surgery, St. George Hospital, University of New South Wales, Kogarah, NSW, Australia.
Objectives:
Although Ki67 measurement by immunohistochemistry has been widely used as a prognostic index in cancers, it has not been reported in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM). Hence, this study examines the prognostic significance of Ki67 in MPM.
Methods:
Specimens from 42 MPM patients were screened for Ki67 expression using immunohistochemistry. Ki67 expression was classified into 2 groups on the basis of expression (<25%=low; ≥25%=high) using standard methods. Using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the significance of Ki67 was assessed in different clinicopathologic categories.
Results:
High expression of Ki67 (≥25% by immunohistochemical evaluation) was correlated with poor survival in the overall group (P=0.001); male sex (P=0.001); female sex (P=0.001); epithelioid tumors (P=0.001): male epithelioid (P=0.001), female epithelioid (P=0.003); peritoneal cancer index (PCI): PCI<20 (P=0.001), PCI≥20 (P=0.002); and age at diagnosis (AAD): AAD<60 years (P=0.001), AAD≥60 years (P=0.004). Independent of Ki67, male sex (P=0.007), sarcomatoid histology (P=0.001), PCI≥20 (P=0.013), and AAD≥60 years (P=0.004) correlated with poor survival. Multivariate analysis showed that only AAD≥60 years (P=0.049) and high Ki67 expression for all tumors (P=0.031), male sex (P=0.038), female sex (P=0.021), epithelioid tumors (P=0.044), and AAD<60 years (P=0.029) were statistically significant.
Conclusions:
Ki67 expression affects prognosis in MPM patients and helps to predict survival within the various clinicopathologic categories.
Insights
High Ki67 expression predicts poor survival in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) patients. This finding is significant across various patient groups and aids in predicting prognosis for MPM.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Ki67 immunohistochemistry is a standard prognostic marker in many cancers.
- Its prognostic value in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) has not been previously established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prognostic significance of Ki67 expression in patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.
- To determine if Ki67 can predict survival outcomes in MPM.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to assess Ki67 expression in 42 MPM patient specimens.
- Ki67 expression was categorized as low (<25%) or high (≥25%).
- Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was employed to evaluate Ki67's impact on survival across different clinicopathologic factors.
Main Results:
- High Ki67 expression (≥25%) significantly correlated with poor survival in the overall MPM patient cohort (P=0.001).
- This correlation was observed across various subgroups, including sex, tumor histology (epithelioid), Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI), and age at diagnosis (AAD).
- Multivariate analysis confirmed high Ki67 expression as an independent prognostic factor for survival in MPM.
Conclusions:
- Ki67 expression is a significant prognostic indicator in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.
- High Ki67 levels can help predict survival outcomes for MPM patients within diverse clinicopathologic categories.
