Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and Ki-67 are better predictors of survival than established clinical indicators in patients undergoing curative hepatic resection for colorectal metastases.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We evaluated hTERT and Ki-67 expression in patients who underwent curative resection of hepatic colorectal metastases to determine if these markers of cell proliferation correlated better with survival than an established scoring system that is based on clinical predictors.

METHODS:

Patients operated on between 1993 and 1997 whose survival time was known were analyzed. For each patient, the clinical prognostic score was derived on the basis of primary node status, disease-free interval, number of hepatic tumors, largest tumor, and carcinoembryonic antigen level, and tumor specimens were analyzed for Ki-67 and hTERT with use of standard immunohistochemical techniques. The immunohistochemical analysis was blinded to all patient characteristics.

RESULTS:

The study included 66 patients. Twenty-six survived less than 2 years after surgery, 19 survived 2-5 years, and 21 survived more than 5 years. Ki-67 positivity and hTERT positivity (labeling indexes greater than or equal to 50%) were observed in 24 patients and 23 patients, respectively. The clinical score did not predict survival, although there was a weak trend toward a lower score in patients with better survival. Both Ki-67 (P =.04) and hTERT (P =.0001) correlated better with survival than did the clinical score.

CONCLUSIONS:

In patients undergoing curative resection of hepatic colorectal metastases, hTERT and Ki-67 are better predictors of survival than is a score based on clinical features.

• Authors: David L Smith, Jean-Charles Soria, Luc Morat, Qinghua Yang, Laure Sabatier, Diane D Liu, Rabih A Nemr, Asif Rashid, Jean-Nicolas Vauthey
• Journal: Annals of surgical oncology (Ann Surg Oncol) Vol. 11 Issue 1 Pg. 45-51 (Jan 2004) ISSN: 1068-9265 [Print] United States
• PMID: 14699033 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• DNA-Binding Proteins
• Ki-67 Antigen
• Telomerase

Topics

• Colorectal Neoplasms (pathology, surgery)
• DNA-Binding Proteins
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Ki-67 Antigen (metabolism)
• Liver Neoplasms (metabolism, mortality, secondary)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• Survival Analysis
• Telomerase (metabolism)