Correlation between DNA ploidy, proliferation marker Ki-67 and early tumor progression in renal cell carcinoma - A prospective study

Objective: The course of metastatic renal cell carcinoma shows a broad range of interindividual variation that cannot be sufficiently predicted by tumor stage and grade. The aim of this study was to establish the prognostic value of DNA ploidy and the proliferation marker Ki-67 in renal cell carcinoma. Methods: Both parameters were measured simultaneously in 100 tumors and then correlated with the classic prognostic criteria pathologic stage and tumor differentiation grade as well as clinical course (early tumor progression). Results: DNA ploidy correlated well with staging, grading and early progression. The proliferation index (Ki-67) correlated well with tumor stage and histopathological grade but not with the clinical course (early progression). Conclusion: Due to the diverse biological potential of renal cell carcinoma observation of further clinical course, including late tumor progression, will be necessary to determine whether one of these two indicators can provide additional information beyond what differentiation grade and turner stage already tell us.