TY - JOUR ID - TI - Ki‑67 Expression as an Indicator of Invasiveness in Patients with Breast Cancer AU - Ahmed Salah Mahdi, Hayder Hussein Ibrahim1, Ayad Ahmad Mohammed PY - 2018 VL - 15 IS - 4 SP - 271 EP - 275 JO - Medical Journal of Babylon مجلة بابل الطبية SN - 1812156X 23126760 AB - Background: Tumor markers have a key role in guiding breast cancer management protocols and predicting prognosis. Objective: The aimof the study is to explore the role of Ki‑67 expression in breast cancer and correlate it to well‑known indicators of invasiveness such as age,tumor size, grade, hormonal receptors, and lymph nodes involvement. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conductedon (214) patients who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer and referred to Azadi Teaching Hospital/Duhok‑Iraq, from November 1st,2016, to October 31st, 2017. Data regarding patient’s demographics, tumor size, histological type and grade, nuclear grade, and lymph nodeinvolvement were obtained from medical records. Patients underwent either mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection or breastconservation surgery. Collected specimens were sent for histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry assessments of estrogenreceptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2), and Ki67 expressions. Results: Our study showed thathistological grade, nuclear grade, mitotic index, and HER2 status were positively correlated to Ki67 index (P < 0.05). Furthermore, ER andPR status showed a negative correlation to Ki67 index (P < 0.05). Age, tumor size, and the number of lymph nodes involved displayed nosignificant correlation to Ki67 level (P = 0.080, 0.738, and 0.888), respectively. Conclusion: Results of this study confirmed that Ki67 indexare significantly correlated with tumor grade, ER, PR, and HER2 status. However, Ki67 expression association with other clinic‑pathologicalparameters such as age, tumor size, or lymph node involvement is not recognized and requires further studies.

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