Ki-67, p53, ER-receptors, ploidy and S-phase as prognostic factors in T1 node negative breast cancer

The prognostic value of Ki-67, p53 and ER immunohistochemical labelling and flow-cytometric S-phase fraction and ploidy was evaluated in 212 pTlN0M0 breast carcinomas. The mean follow-up time was 8.3 years. Patients with breast carcinomas with high Ki-67 expression (greater than or equal to 10%) had a less favourable disease-free survival than those with low Ki-67 expression (greater than or equal to 10%) (p = 0.008). A positive p53 staining and high SPF were associated with a less favourable disease-free survival although it did not reach statistical significance. The subset of patients with ER negative, Ki-67 greater than or equal to 10% and p53 greater than or equal to 20% tumours, had a shorter disease-free survival compared with that of all the other patients (p = 0.03). We conclude that the potential value of Ki-67 labelling for prognostic evaluation of TlN0M0 breast carcinoma is good.