Significance of Ki-67 antigen expression in hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To investigate the correlation of Ki 67 expression with both clinical pathological factors and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Methods Immunohistochemistry assay was adopted to detect Ki 67 antigen expression in normal liver tissues(20 cases), hepatic cirrhotic tissues(20 cases), focal nodular hyperplasia tissues(FNH, 5 cases), HCC tissues(85 cases) and its corresponding noncancer parenchyma tissues(85 cases) respectively. Results Ki 67 antigen expression level was significantly higher in HCC than that in corresponding noncancer parenchyma(P0.01), hepatic cirrhotic tissues(P0.01), normal hepatic tissues(P0.01) and FNH(P0.01). Ki 67 expression was also closely whether there was correlated with the tumor differentiation(P0.01), tumor size(P0.01) and tumor embolus in the portal vein(P0.01) and tumor capsule existing(P0.05), while no correlation of Ki 67 expression with preoperative AFP level, HBsAg or number of lesions(P0.05) was found. Prognosis was also closely related with Ki 67 expression(P0.01), showing a tumor free mean survival period of 53 months with Ki 67 index200, and 18 months with Ki 67 index≥200. Conclusions Detection of Ki 67antigen expression helps to distinct HCC from FNH; and Ki 67 index can be used to predict the degree of malignancy of HCC and its prognosis.