A study on the role of proliferative index marker Ki67 in breast carcinoma

Background. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. This study was conducted to establish early diagnosis and therapy, thus improving prognosis and overall survival rate. Objectives. To assess the levels of proliferation index marker Ki67 and hormone receptor status in patients with breast carcinoma and to correlate Ki67 with ER, PR, Her2neu status, as well as to correlate Ki67 and hormone receptor status with onco-pathological parameters. Materials and Methods. 392 patients diagnosed with breast carcinoma over a period of four years were included in the study. Data regarding patient’s identification, history, clinical finding, investigations and histopathological report were recorded in a specific proforma. Result. Breast cancer was seen to affect people in the older age group, and invasive ductal carcinoma of nonspecific type was the most common type. Most patients had unifocal tumor with grade 2 disease. Stage II disease was most common stage among the patients studied and Luminal B subtype was the predominant type of molecular subtype. Most of the patients were Ki67 positive, i.e., Ki67 >14%. The correlation of Ki67 with estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, tumor size, mitotic count, lymph node ratio, lymphovascular invasion and extra-nodal extension was found to be statistically significant. Conclusions. There exists a statistically significant, positive correlation between breast cancers, its onco-pathological parameters, proliferation index marker Ki67 and hormone receptor status. Therefore, the judicious use of these tests (Ki67 is an old marker of proliferation but not routinely used) will help in the early appropriate treatment of patients and contribute to the assessment of treatment response and prognosis.