The proliferation factors: mitotic activity index (MAI), phosphohistone H3 (PPH3) and Ki67 have strong prognostic value in early breast cancer but their independent value to each other and other prognostic factors has not been evaluated. In 237 T1-2N0M0 breast cancers without systemic adjuvant treatment, formalized MAT assessment and strictly standardized, fully automated quantitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) for Ki67, PPH3, estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), HER2, cytokeratins-5/6 and -14, and automated digital image analysis (DIA) for measuring PPH3 and Ki67 were performed. Section thickness was measured to further control IHC measurements. All features were measured in the periphery of tumors. The different proliferation assessments and other well-established clinicopathological and biomarker prognostic factors were compared. DIA-Ki67 added prognostically to PPH3. None of the other biomarkers or clinicopathological variables added prognostically to this PPH3/Ki67 combination. However, when PPH3 is replaced by MAT the prognostic value is nearly the same. In early operable node negative breast cancer without adjuvant systemic treatment, Ki67 with a threshold of 6.5% assessed by digital image analysis in the periphery of the tumor is prognostically strong. The combination of either PPH3/Ki67 or MAI/Ki67 overshadowed the prognostic value of all other features including Ki67 alone.
[1]Stavanger Univ Hosp, Dept Pathol, N-4068 Stavanger, Norway.
[2]Stavanger Univ Hosp, Dept Oncol, N-4068 Stavanger, Norway.
[3]Fudan Univ, Obstet & Gynecol Hosp, Dept Gynecol, Shanghai 200433, Peoples R China.
[4]Fudan Univ, Canc Hosp, Dept Breast Surg, Shanghai 200433, Peoples R China.
[5]Univ Texas MD Anderson Canc Ctr, Dept Pathol, Houston, TX 77030 USA.
[6]Univ Texas MD Anderson Canc Ctr, Dept Gynecol Oncol, Houston, TX 77030 USA.
[7]Fudan Univ, Shanghai Canc Ctr, Shanghai 200433, Peoples R China.
(8.0+极速模式)