Ki-67 expression in patients with uterine leiomyomas, uterine smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) and uterine leiomyosarcomas (LMS).

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the expression of Ki-67 in uterine smooth muscle tumors, comparing leiomyomas, uterine smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) and uterine leiomyosarcomas (LMS) and to prove the accuracy of a Ki-67 expression as a useful parameter in the diagnosis of LMS.

METHODS:

Ki-67 was assessed using immunohistochemistry from paraffin-embedded tissue in 20 patients with uterine LMS, 22 cases of STUMP and 25 cases of leiomyomas.

RESULTS:

Ki-67 was present in 10/20 (50%) LMS, in 0/22 (0%) STUMP and in 2/25 (8%) leiomyomas. Significant differences regarding the frequency of Ki-67 expression were observed between LMS and STUMP (p = 0.0001) as well as between LMS and leiomyomas (p = 0.002), but not between STUMP and leiomyomas (p = 0.491). Likewise, the staining intensity differed significantly between LMS and leiomyomas (p = 0.018) as well as between LMS and STUMP (p = 0.002), but not between STUMP and leiomyomas (p = 0.368).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results demonstrate that the significantly elevated Ki-67 antigen expression in LMS, which correlates well with the rapid growth of these malignant tumors, may be a useful immunohistochemical parameter to distinguish between cases of malignant smooth muscle tumors and those of uncertain or borderline histology.

• Authors: Klaus Mayerhofer, Plamen Lozanov, Klaus Bodner, Barbara Bodner-Adler, Oliver Kimberger, Klaus Czerwenka
• Journal: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica (Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand) Vol. 83 Issue 11 Pg. 1085-8 (Nov 2004) ISSN: 0001-6349 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15488127 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Ki-67 Antigen

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Ki-67 Antigen (blood)
• Leiomyoma (blood, diagnosis)
• Leiomyosarcoma (blood, diagnosis)
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue (blood, diagnosis)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Retrospective Studies
• Smooth Muscle Tumor (blood, diagnosis)
• Uterine Neoplasms (blood, diagnosis)