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Thymidine labeling index and Ki-67 growth fraction in breast cancer: Comparison and correlation with prognosis

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Summary

In situ determination of proliferative activity was performed on 184 consecutive primary invasive breast cancers. Methods used were monoclonal antibody Ki-67 in immunohistochemistry and thymidine labeling index. Tumor proliferation correlated between both methods (p = 0.0001). For thymidine labeling index and Ki-67, respectively, significant correlations existed with histologic tumour grade and steroid hormone receptors (Tumor grade: TLIp = 0.0001; Ki-67 p = 0.0001. ER-ICA: TLI = 0.0001; Ki-67 p = 0.014. PgR-ICA: TLIp = 0.0001; Ki-67 p = 0.0008).

For thymidine labeling index a significant correlation was demonstrated for overall survival (p = 0.001) and recurrence free survival (p = 0.01). No statistical significance was observed for clinical outcome and Ki-67 (overall survival p = 0.18; recurrence free survival p = 0.1). None of the factors, TLI or Ki-67, was an independent prognostic factor as demonstrated by multivariate analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Clinical Pathology, University of Vienna, Allgemeines Krankenhaus, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

    M. Rudas, R. Neumayer, A. Kummer & A. Reiner

  2. First Surgical University Clinic, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    M. F. X. Gnant, M. Mittlböck, R. Jakesz & G. Reiner

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  1. M. Rudas
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  2. M. F. X. Gnant
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  3. M. Mittlböck
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  4. R. Neumayer
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  5. A. Kummer
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  6. R. Jakesz
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  7. G. Reiner
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  8. A. Reiner
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Rudas, M., Gnant, M.F.X., Mittlböck, M. et al. Thymidine labeling index and Ki-67 growth fraction in breast cancer: Comparison and correlation with prognosis. Breast Cancer Res Tr 32, 165–175 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00665767

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