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. 2012 Dec;19(13):4262-9.
doi: 10.1245/s10434-012-2461-9. Epub 2012 Jul 3.

Ki-67 is a prognostic biomarker of survival after radiofrequency ablation of liver malignancies

Constantinos T Sofocleous  1 , Sandeep Garg, Lydia M Petrovic, Mithat Gonen, Elena N Petre, David S Klimstra, Stephen B Solomon, Karen T Brown, Lynn A Brody, Ann M Covey, Ronald P Dematteo, Lawrence Schwartz, Nancy E Kemeny
Affiliations

Ki-67 is a prognostic biomarker of survival after radiofrequency ablation of liver malignancies

Constantinos T Sofocleous et al. Ann Surg Oncol. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the predictive value of examinations of tissue adherent to multitined electrodes on local tumor progression-free survival (LPFS) and overall survival (OS) after liver tumor radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Methods: An institutional review board-approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant review identified 68 liver tumors treated with RFA in 63 patients with at least 3 years' follow-up. Tissue adherent to the electrode after liver tumor RFA was evaluated with proliferation (Ki-67) and apoptotic (caspase-3) markers. LPFS and OS were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier methodology and the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis assessed the effect of tumor size, pathology, and post-RFA tissue characteristics on LPFS and OS.

Results: Post-RFA tissue examination classified 55 of the 68 tumors as completely ablated with coagulation necrosis, with cells positive for caspase-3 and negative for Ki-67 (CN). Thirteen had viable Ki-67-positive tumor cells. Mean liver tumor size was larger in the viable (V) group versus the CN group (3.4 vs. 2.5 cm, respectively; P = .017). For the V and CN groups, respectively, local tumor progression occurred in 12 (92 %) of 13 and 23 (42 %) of 55 specimens. One, 3-, and 5-year LPFS was 8 %, 8 %, and 8 %, and 79 %, 47 %, and 47 % (P < .001) for the V and CN groups, respectively. During a 63-month median follow-up, 92 % of patients in the V group and 58 % in the CN group died, resulting in 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS of 92 %, 25 %, and 8 % vs. 92 %, 59 %, and 33 % (P = .032), respectively.

Conclusions: Ki-67-positive tumor cells on the electrode after liver tumor RFA is an independent predictor of LPFS and OS. Size, initially thought to be an independent risk factor for local tumor progression in tumors 3-5 cm, does not hold its significance at long follow-up.

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Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
Kaplan-Meier curves for V and CN groups (yellow line, viable tumor; blue line, CN). a LPFS by groups. b OS by groups
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
LPFS on the basis of the viable tumor or CN status of tissue (yellow line, viable tumor; blue line, CN). a LPFS for HCC lesions by groups. b LPFS for CRC lesions by groups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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