February 22, 2015 – A recent study1 found intratumoral and intertumoral Ki-67 heterogeneity is common and positively correlated with tumor size.
The researchers designed a study to examine Ki-67 heterogeneity within single and between synchronous liver metastases of small intestine neuroendocrine tumors.
There were 27 patients (10 men and 17 women) with two or more liver metastases. The Ki-67 index was used to classify the tumors into World Health Organization grade 1, 2, or 3. The association between Ki-67 heterogeneity and tumor size of liver metastases was analyzed. Correlation of tumor grade with patient survival was also evaluated.
The results showed patients with one or more grade 3 liver lesions had a shorter progression-free survival compared with those with grade 1/2 tumors. A positive association was found between tumor size and Ki-67 index, as well as between tumor size and intratumoral Ki-67 heterogeneity.
The authors concluded that intratumoral and intertumoral Ki-67 heterogeneity is common and positively correlated with tumor size. The presence of one or more grade 3 liver lesions predicts a worse prognosis.
Resources: 1. Shi C, Gonzalez RS, Zhao Z, et al. Liver metastases of small intestine neuroendocrine tumors: ki-67 heterogeneity and world health organization grade discordance with primary tumors. Am J Clin Pathol. 2015 Mar;143(3):398-404. doi: 10.1309/AJCPQ55SKOCYFZHN.
