Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
Published on: July 5, 2021
Ki67 as a prognostic factor of craniopharyngioma's recurrence in paediatric population
Elżbieta Moszczyńska1, Monika Prokop-Piotrkowska2, Agnieszka Bogusz-Wójcik3
1Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Al. Dzieci Polskich 20, 04-730, Warsaw, Poland. e.moszczynska@ipczd.pl.
Insights
The proliferation index Ki67 is not a reliable predictor for craniopharyngioma recurrence in children. This study found no significant difference in Ki67 levels between recurrent and non-recurrent tumors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neuro-oncology
- Tumor biology
- Molecular pathology
Background:
- Craniopharyngioma is a common benign central nervous system tumor in children.
- Despite being benign, it severely impacts patient quality of life.
- Understanding recurrence risk factors is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Ki67 proliferation index as a potential marker for craniopharyngioma recurrence risk.
- To determine if Ki67 expression levels correlate with tumor progression or relapse.
Main Methods:
- Ki67 expression was analyzed in 85 primary and 11 recurrent adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas.
- Ki67 values were compared between patients with and without recurrence.
- Comparisons were also made between progression/relapse groups and primary/recurrent tumors.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference in Ki67 levels was observed between recurrent (median 3%) and non-recurrent (median 2.5%) tumors.
- While a trend suggested higher Ki67 in recurrent tumors (median 5%) versus primary (median 3%), this was not statistically significant.
- No significant differences were found between progression (median 1%) and relapse (median 4%) groups.
Conclusions:
- The Ki67 proliferation index is not a reliable prognostic factor for predicting craniopharyngioma recurrence.
- Further research may be needed to identify definitive markers for craniopharyngioma prognosis.
Purpose:
Craniopharyngioma is one of the most frequent benign tumours of the central nervous system in the paediatric population. Although it is a benign tumour according to the WHO classification, it significantly deteriorates the patient's quality of life. The aim of this study is to assess if proliferation index Ki67 can be a useful marker of the risk of craniopharyngioma's recurrence.
Methods:
Expression of Ki67 was examined in 85 specimens of primary craniopharyngioma and in 11 specimens of the recurring tumour. In all the cases, adamantinomatous type of craniopharyngioma was diagnosed. Values of Ki67 expression were compared between patients with and without recurrence, between patients with progression and relapse and between primary and recurrent tumours.
Results:
No statistically significant differences were found between proliferation index Ki67 values in tumours with recurrence and without (median values 2.5% and 3%, respectively, p = 0.69). The median value of proliferation index Ki67 in progression group was 1% and in the relapse group 4%; no statistical significance between those groups was found (p = 0.067). The median value of proliferation index Ki67 in primary tumours was 3% (0-20%) and in recurrent tumours it was 5% (0-14%). Despite the lack of statistical significance (p = 0.61), a tendency towards higher values of Ki67 in recurring tumours in comparison with primary tumours was shown.
Conclusions:
Proliferation index Ki67 is not a reliable prognostic factor of craniopharyngioma's recurrence.
Related Concept Videos
The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...

