Prognostic significance of Ki67 in Chinese women diagnosed with ER/HER2 breast cancers by the 2015 St. Gallen consensus classification.

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated the distribution pattern of the Ki67-labeling index (LI) among patients at a Chinese breast cancer center, and analyzed its prognostic significance in the 2015 St Gallen consensus breast cancer classification, estrogen receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative(ER/HER2)subtype.

METHODS

We classified 939 women with ER/HER2 breast cancer into three groups by Ki67-LI levels, and followed their clinicopathologic characteristics and prognoses.

RESULTS

In the 939 eligible subjects, 342 had Ki67-LI ≤10% (Ki67), 281 had Ki67-LI between 10 and 30% (Ki67), and 316 had Ki67-LI ≥30% (Ki67). Although the Ki67 group had less favorable clinicopathologic factors, the Ki67 group's factors varied considerably. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that disease-free survival(DFS) for the Ki67 group was significantly shorter than the Ki67 group but longer than the Ki67 group. Ki67-LI had independent prognostic significance in multivariate analysis. Other diagnostic factors, including tumor size >2 cm, positive lymph nodes, and grade III disease, were significantly associated with poorer disease-free survival only in the Ki67 group.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with ER/HER2 breast cancer, we confirmed three distinct risk patterns by Ki67-LI levels according to the 2015 St Gallen consensus. For patients with clearly low or high Ki67-LI, straightforward clinical decisions could be offered, but for patients with intermediate Ki67-LI, other factors might provide valuable information.