Role and prognostic significance of the Ki-67 index in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Expression of Ki-67, a nuclear antigen protein present in all cycling cells, is used to determine the growth fraction of tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role and prognostic significance of the Ki-67 proliferation index (PI) in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Ki-67 was assayed immunohistochemically in tissue samples of 319 patients with newly-diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In 268 patients, the Ki-67 PI was correlated with clinical course and outcome. The mean Ki-67 PI ranged from 26.6% in indolent lymphomas to 97.6% in very aggressive lymphomas (P < 0.001). The index was <45% in 82.8% of indolent lymphomas and >45% in 85% of aggressive lymphomas (AUC = 0.877, P < 0.001). In patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n = 141), a Ki-67 PI of 70% was found to significantly discriminate patients with good or bad prognosis (AUC = 0.65, P = 0.004). Three-year survival was 75% +/- 5.6% in patients with a low Ki-67 index compared with 55.9% +/- 6% in patients with a high index (P = 0.015). In patients with a low IPI (10 cm), the corresponding 3-year survival by Ki-67 index was 100% and 25% +/- 12% (P = 0.012). Our results suggest that the mean Ki-67 PI differs by type of lymphoma. A cut-off value of 45% can help differentiate indolent from aggressive disease. In diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a cut-off value of 70% can distinguish patients with a good and bad prognosis when combined with other prognostic factors of low IPI score and bulky disease.

Expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D and their receptor VEGFR-3 in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.

Lymphangiogenesis-the new growth of lymphatic vessels is an important route for the metastatic spread of human cancer. The receptor tyrosine kinase VEGFR-3 is expressed predominantly on lymphatic endothelium, and activation by its ligands VEGF-C and VEGF-D induces lymhpangiogenesis. VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 have been found to play an important role in the lymphangiogenesis of several cancers. The present study investigated the expression of these factors by immunohistochemical staining of diagnosis specimens from 38 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 were expressed in both lymphoma cells and endothelial cells of blood and lymphatic tissue in all but one patient (who was negative for VEGF-D in lymphoma). There was a significant correlation in the intensity of staining between VEGF-C and -D in lymphoma and blood vessels (P < 0.001), and between the intensity of staining of VEGF-D and the patient International Prognostic Index score (P = 0.049) and borderline significance with overall survival (P = 0.051). Mean microvessel count was 58 (range 23-120), and it increased in association with high-intensity VEGF-C staining in lymphoma cells. Our findings indicate the importance of lymphangiogenic factors in the pathogenesis of DLBCL and suggest a potential therapeutic role for antilymphangiogenesis agents.