Intratumoral heterogeneity affects tumor regression and Ki67 proliferation index in perioperatively treated gastric carcinoma

Background Intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) is a major problem in gastric cancer (GC). We tested Ki67 and tumor regression for ITH after neoadjuvant/perioperative chemotherapy. Methods 429 paraffin blocks were obtained from 106 neoadjuvantly/perioperatively treated GCs (one to five blocks per case). Serial sections were stained with Masson's trichrome, antibodies directed against cytokeratin and Ki67, and finally digitalized. Tumor regression and three different Ki67 proliferation indices (PI), i.e., maximum PI (KiH), minimum PI (KiL), and the difference between KiH/KiL (KiD) were obtained per block. Statistics were performed in a block-wise (all blocks irrespective of their case-origin) and case-wise manner. Results Ki67 and tumor regression showed extensive ITH in our series (maximum ITH within a case: 31% to 85% for KiH; 4.5% to 95.6% for tumor regression). In addition, Ki67 was significantly associated with tumor regression (p < 0.001). Responders (<10% residual tumor, p = 0.016) exhibited prolonged survival. However, there was no significant survival benefit after cut-off values were increased >= 20% residual tumor mass. Ki67 remained without prognostic value. Conclusions Digital image analysis in tumor regression evaluation might help overcome inter- and intraobserver variability and validate classification systems. Ki67 may serve as a sensitivity predictor for chemotherapy and an indicator of ITH.