Study on the prognostic significance of Ki67 Labelling Index in patients with advanced gastric cancer

In 56 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy (R0) for advanced gastric cancer the growth activity of the tumour was assessed by immunohistochemical staining with the monoclonal antibody MIB-1. The patients were divided in three groups according to the Ki67 Labeling Index (Ki67 LI) of the tumours: < 10% (n = 18), 10%-40% (n = 21) and > 40% (n = 17). No statistically significant correlation was found between proliferative activity and the wall invasion (p = 0.80) or nodal status (p = 0.73). The cumulative 5-year survival rates was 55% in patients with Ki67LI < 10%, 52.4% with Ki67LI 10%-40%, 52.9% with Ki67LI > 40% and the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.93). A significant interaction between Ki67 LI and age was found (p = 0.002): in particular a Ki67 labelling rate > 40% was significantly associated with a poor prognosis in patients aged 70 years and older.